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A meteor, also known as a “shooting star”, is a streak of light created by a chunk of material that enters earth’s atmosphere. The piece of rock or ice falls through the air so fast that it usually burns up in seconds, vanishing long before it can hit the ground The word “meteor” comes from Greek, originally meaning “high up.” A meteor shower is a time when many meteors are expected to be visible (seen) within the span of a few days.
Soon, we will be experiencing the Lyrid meteor shower. These meteors are known for their tails- long trails of burning dust that may be visible for up to several seconds. The Lyrid meteors look like they fall out of the constellation, or group of stars, called Lyra. The name “Lyra” sounds like “Lyric”, the words to a song: ancient Greeks thought this collection of stars looked like a person singing and playing a harp. Lyra is a small constellation, but bright. If you’re curious, you may find it by pointing a star app at the sky.
The Lyrid meteor shower occurs annually (every year) from April 16th-25th, peaking on the 22nd. Meteors may be visible between 10:30 and dawn. The darker the sky, the more stars will be visible from the Earth. This year, the sky will be extra dark because April 20th happens to fall on the new moon, the night every month when the moon is dark (not illuminated by the sun’s light).
Thanks for reading, and good luck looking for a shooting star!