The New Hampshire Sky Will Light Up With Meteors In April During The Lyrids Meteor Shower

Natural beauty is all around us here in New Hampshire, but sometimes we must also remember to look up. We are sitting on a planet in the midst of an infinite expanse of cosmic wonder and sometimes the natural features of the universe pay us a visit in the form of meteor showers. Coming up in April, and provided skies are clear, the Lyrids will be putting on a show in the northern hemisphere.

The Lyrid meteor shower streaks through the sky each year between April 16-25, and in 2023, will peak on the night of April 22. The skies should be dark enough to see the show, as the moon will only be slightly illuminated.

The Lyrids are tiny pieces of Comet Thatcher. This comet orbits the sun about every 416 years and last traveled by our star in 1861.

The meteors will become visible starting around 10:30 p.m. before reaching their peak before dawn the next morning.

According to NASA, the most prominent feature of the Lyrids are the luminous dust trails that are visible for several seconds after the meteors pass.

Occasionally, the shower can intensify and result in up to 100 meteors per hour streaking across the sky. Usually though, there are about 15 to 20 per hour.

The Lyrids are some of the oldest meteor showers ever recorded and were first noted in the year 687 B.C. To observe them, no telescope is needed but you will need some time for your eyes to adjust to the dark sky.

If you enjoy keeping your eye on the sky, set your alarm clocks for the Geminid meteors in December, the Perseids in August, and the Eta Aquarids in May.