Lyrid meteor shower is set to shine on April nights ahead

Lyrid meteor shower is set to shine on April nights ahead.

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The article discusses the upcoming Lyrid meteor shower on April 22, 2023, in the Pacific Northwest.

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The Lyrid meteor shower will last from April 15 to 29, 2023, but the best time to view it under the darkest skies possible is on April 19, when there will be a new moon.

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The Lyrids are considered a medium-strength meteor shower, with a peak rate of 10 to 15 meteors per hour, though rare outbursts can result in up to 100 per hour.

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The meteors are best seen under dark skies, and viewers should try to find stargazing spots away from human-created light.

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The peak of the Lyrid meteor shower will begin about 9 p.m. on April 22, 2023, in Portland and end around 6 a.m. on April 23, 2023.

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The meteors will appear in the northeast, near the bright star Vega.

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Cloud cover may be the biggest obstacle to seeing the meteor shower, with forecasts currently calling for clouds and periods of rain in Portland on the night of April 22, 2023.

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Other meteor viewing opportunities include the Eta Aquarids, Delta Aquarids, Alpha Capricornids, and Perseids.

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Viewers can increase their chances of seeing the meteor shower by finding officially-designated Dark Sky Places.

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The Lyrid meteor shower is one of several major astronomical events in 2023.

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