The maximum activity of the Lyrid swarm is approaching

During the upcoming weekend in the sky it will be possible to watch the so called “stratospheric balloon”. shooting stars. The Lyridian swarm will have its activity. This swarm is associated with Thatcher’s comet and its activity falls annually between April 16 and 25.

Roj Lirydow is known to every astronomy enthusiast. Every year it is a remarkable attraction in the night sky. To watch this phenomenon you do not need binoculars or telescopesow. All you need is a clear and cloudless sky. And a little patience. It is also worth choosing places outside the city, where there is much less light pollution, ktore hinders any astronomical observations.

Mostly, in a typical year, you can expect from 5 to 20 meteoroin the Lirid swarmow per hour, but it is affected by weather conditions – cloudiness or full moon, ktora may limit visibility „of shooting stars”. This year, our natural satellite should not interfere too much with observations, as it will be entering the first quarter.

Although the intensity of meteorow is difficult to predict, probably the best conditions and the largest so-called “swarm”. zenithal hourly number, that is, the amount of „falling stars” per hour, will be in the early morning hours of April 22.

The location of the swarm should not cause troubleoin amateurs of space fireworksow. It is enough to direct your gaze to the southeastern side of the sky. The radiant of the swarm is located on the border of the constellationoin Lute and Hercules.

Roj Lirydow has been known since antiquity. The Chinese recorded its activity in 687 p.n.e. In 1803 and 1922, meteor rains were recorded in its caseow – intensity of meteoroAt that time it was about 1800 per hour.

SourceoLirid swarmow is the long-period comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher). Every year, at the end of April, our planet crosses the orbital path of this comet. It returns to the vicinity of the Sun every 415 years. It was last seen near Earth in 1861 and is expected to arrive again in 2276.