Lyrid meteor shower visible last week of April
MANILA, Philippines — Astronomy enthusiasts in the country could watch out for meteor showers later this month, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The Lyrid meteor shower will peak on April 22 to predawn of April 23, PAGASA said in its monthly astronomical diary.
The shower typically generates a dozen meteors per hour under optimal conditions with a brief maximum that lasts for less than a day.
“Although not numerous, Lyrids are bright and fast meteors,” PAGASA said.
According to the weather bureau, the Lyrid meteor shower has been observed for more than 2,600 years.
“Chinese records show that stars fell like rain during the meteor shower of 687 B.C. However, in recent times, the Lyrids have generally been weak,” it said.
The Lyrids meteor shower is created by bits of debris left behind by the repeated passage through the inner solar system of comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1).
Meteor showers can be seen with the naked eye.
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