Spectacular meteor shower visible over the UK this weekend
The annual shower is due to peak this weekend
The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to dazzle stargazers this weekend, with up to 18 meteors an hour set to light the sky.
The celestial display will peak in the early hours of April 23 and will be visible until dawn.
There will be bright fast meteors – some with trains, according to the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
Also, the peak comes just after New Moon, which means views of the spectacle will not be impeded by moonlight.
What is a meteor shower?
Meteor showers, or shooting stars, are a burst of meteor activity.
They’re caused when pieces of debris known as meteorites enter Earth's atmosphere at speeds of around 43 miles per second, burning up and causing streaks of light.
The Lyrid shower takes its name from the constellation of Lyra, where the shooting stars appear to originate from.
These meteors are pieces of debris falling from the Thatcher Comet, which is expected to return to the inner solar system in 2276, after an orbital period of 415 years.
Where can I see the Lyrid meteor shower?
In order to see the Lyrids, it is necessary to find a dark site with an unobstructed view of the sky.
The number of meteors people could see will depend on a variety of things, from the time of night to the level of background light.
A bright sky will drown out the fainter meteors making them much more difficult to see.
The best viewing window to see the shower is in the early morning of its peak day, which this year is Sunday April 23rd.
Tips for seeing shooting stars
1. Dark sky
You might not realise how much light pollution there is in your neighbourhood, find out more about light pollution and where you can find a really dark sky here.
Allow your eyes 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Don't forget that the moon can also interfere so try to avoid times when it is visible.
2. Date and time
To increase your chances of seeing some meteors make sure you find out the best time to look for them. Often it is when the sky is at its darkest (in the middle of the night), or if there is a meteor shower, when the radiant (where the meteors come from - the constellation Leo) is high in the sky.
3. Look in the right area
It sounds obvious, but the sky is a very large area and meteors are very fast! Make sure you know which area of the sky you should be looking in. The Leonids come from Leo, the easiest way to find it would be to use a free sky map app on your phone. We've also included a video at the bottom of this page to help you find it.
4. Good weather
Again, it seems obvious, but there's no point in standing in the cold when it's cloudy. Check the weather forecast before going outside, and if it's going to be clear later on then wait until then if you can.
5. Don't use a telescope or binoculars
Using a telescope or binoculars will DECREASE your chances of seeing a meteor. Meteors are so quick that you are likely to miss them if you don't use the naked eye. Save your telescope or binoculars for the moon or planets.