The skies are alive this month

Lyrids Meteor Shower: April 21 – 23

Wake+up+early+and+wonder+at+the+world.

Image by Ivilin Stoyanov from Pixabay

Wake up early and wonder at the world.

Look to the skies early in the morning of April 22 and April 23 and you should experience the annual Lyrids Meteor Shower, known for its fast and bright meteors.

This event happens at the end of April and is caused by “the debris left behind by the comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher,” according to Telescope House  Meteor showers in general occur when Earth passes through the debris left behind by comets or asteroids, and they offer a spectacular display of shooting stars that can be enjoyed by anyone with a clear view of the night sky.

The Lyrid Meteor Shower is one of the oldest known meteor showers and has been observed for 2,700 years, with the first recorded sighting dating back to 687 BC by the Chinese.

It’s named after the constellation Lyra, as the meteors appear to originate from that area in the sky. The best time to view the Lyrid Meteor Shower is during the pre-dawn hours, when the moon is not too bright and the sky is darkest.

Nebedaye Farms  explains that meteor showers originally represented beauty erupting from the ashes. “Meteor showers represent the spiritual insights and wisdom gained from looking deep within the shadows of ourselves and our world. They also invite us to create new ideas and beliefs.” About 30 meteor showers occur each year, some taking up to 100 years to become visible to us.