Metro Vancouver residents must travel to view the next total solar eclipse but they can view another beautiful celestial display locally this April.
Rosanna Tilbrook, an astronomer at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, tells V.I.A. that the Lyrid meteor shower is visible from April 16 to April 25 in the Lower Mainland.
Locals will start seeing meteors beginning on April 16 as the shower's strength builds until its peak. The shower will peak overnight from April 21 to April 22, offering the best chance to see multiple shooting starts. However, locals shouldn't have their hearts set on observing a high rate of meteors at the peak.
April's annual meteor shower isn't considered the most productive display of the year but is "still a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of some shooting stars," Tilbrook says.
"As meteor showers go, it's not the most lively. The maximum rate of meteors is predicted to be around 18 per hour," she says,
Other showers, such as the highly productive Perseids, see up to 100 meteors per hour at its peak.
The American Meteor Society adds that the Lyrids usually lack persistent trains but can produce "fireballs." A fireball "is another term for a very bright meteor, generally brighter than magnitude -4, which is about the same magnitude of the planet Venus as seen in the morning or evening sky."
The fireballs are debris from comet Thatcher, which orbits the sun roughly every 415 years. The Lyrids are named after the constellation Lyra and are one of the "oldest recorded meteor showers." Some Chinese texts show recorded observations of the shower over 2,500 years ago, according to timeanddate.com.
Lyrids Meteor shower viewing tips
While viewing will depend on weather conditions, there are other things you can do to ensure you have the best viewing experience.
Tilbrook says the best advice for "watching a meteor shower is to find a dark location with a wide view of the sky." The Lyrids will "appear to originate from the constellation of Lyra, but can streak across the whole night sky."
To fully enjoy the spectacle, here are a few tips for meteor hunting:
- If possible, head away from city lights, which make it hard to see fainter meteors. The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada provides some dark sky locations online.
- Use the Vancouver Clear Sky Chart and check under the "seeing conditions before I head out to observe" section to find out how clear the display will be.
- If you need to use a flashlight, place a red filter over the bulb (a red balloon will do in a bind). White light is very blinding and may affect your night vision.
- Dress warmly and wear multiple layers. Bring blankets.
- Sit back and relax on a reclining chair or blanket. Not only is it much more comfortable to observe the stars lying down, but you'll also see more that way.
- Pack a thermos of hot chocolate or coffee - it will come in handy if you start to drift off or get a little chilly.
- Be patient. It might take a while before you see your first shooting star. Don't be quick to give up.
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