\n<\/p>\n
Our universe might be chock-full of cosmic wonder, but you can only observe a fraction of astronomical phenomena with your naked eye. Meteor showers, natural fireworks that streak brightly across the night sky, are one of them.<\/p>\n
The latest observable meteor shower will be the Lyrids, which have been active since April 14 and are forecast to continue until April 29. They reach their peak April 21 to 22, or Sunday night into Monday morning.<\/p>\n
Best seen from the Northern Hemisphere, the Lyrids are caused by the dusty debris from a comet named Thatcher and spring from the constellation Lyra.<\/p>\n
During this year\u2019s period of peak activity, viewers may have a more difficult time seeing meteors from this shower because the moon will be nearly full.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
There is a chance you might see a meteor on any given night, but you are most likely to catch one during a shower. Meteor showers are caused by Earth passing through the rubble trailing a comet or asteroid as it swings around the sun. This debris, which can be as small as a grain of sand, leaves behind a glowing stream of light as it burns up in Earth\u2019s atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Meteor showers occur around the same time every year and can last for days or weeks. But there is only a small window when each shower is at its peak, which happens when Earth reaches the densest part of the cosmic debris. The peak is the best time to look for a shower. From our point of view on Earth, the meteors will appear to come from the same point in the sky.<\/p>\n
The Perseid meteor shower, for example, peaks in mid-August from the constellation Perseus. The Geminids, which occur every December, radiate from the constellation Gemini.<\/p>\n
Subscribe to the Times Space and Astronomy Calendar for reminders about meteor showers throughout the year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Michelle Nichols, the director of public observing at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, recommends forgoing the use of telescopes or binoculars while watching a meteor shower.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just need your eyes and, ideally, a dark sky,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because meteors can shoot across large swaths of the sky, so observing equipment can limit your field of view.<\/p>\n
Some showers are strong enough to produce up to 100 streaks an hour, according to the American Meteor Society, though you likely won\u2019t see that many.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost everybody is under a light polluted sky,\u201d Ms. Nichols said. \u201cYou may think you\u2019re under a dark sky, but in reality, even in a small town, you can have bright lights nearby.\u201d<\/p>\n
Planetariums, local astronomy clubs or even maps like this one can help you figure out where to get away from excessive light. The best conditions for catching a meteor shower are a clear sky with no moon or cloud cover, at sometime between midnight and sunrise. (Moonlight affects visibility in the same way as light pollution, washing out fainter sources of light in the sky.) Make sure to give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to seeing in the dark.<\/p>\n
Ms. Nichols also recommends wearing layers, even during the summer. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be sitting there for quite a while, watching,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to get chilly, even in August.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bring a cup of cocoa or tea for even more warmth. Then sit back, scan the sky and enjoy the show.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n