If you’re itching to witness some celestial sightings in the night sky, April is a good month to be in Australia. Aside from a rare ‘Devil Comet’ that will light up the sky next week, the brilliant Lyrids Meteor Shower, will offer up to 20 shooting stars per hour at its peak. Lyrids have been observed for over 2700 years around the world making this one of the oldest known meteor showers. The Lyrids typically put on a show annually in April and if you’re ready for some memorable night sky sightseeing, we’ve got an event for you. A special stargazing experience is being held specifically to enjoy this meteor shower courtesy of the team behind Blue Mountains Stargazing and Jervis Bay Stargazing and it’s an excellent way to experience this astronomical show.
What is the Lyrid meteor shower?
Meteor showers are one of the most striking astronomical phenomena to observe and also one of the easiest. All you need are optimal viewing conditions, a dark sky, no city lights and plenty of patience. The Lyrid meteor shower delights astronomy aficionados with 10 to 20 bright and fast meteors per hour at their peak. Lyrids have also been known to produce as many as 100 meteors per hour in the northern hemisphere.
Originating from the debris trail left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, the glowing meteors, streak across the night sky at a speed of up to 100,000 km/h, leaving behind a trail of dust and gas.
When is the Lyrid meteor shower?
The Lyrids shower will run from April 15 to April 29 in 2024 with the peak occurring on the evening of April 21 and in the early morning hours of April 22.
According to NASA, you’ll want to find an area away from any lights and give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to the night sky for the best chance at viewing some meteors.
Lyrids Meteor Shower Stargazing Event
This stargazing event will take place on Monday, April 22 from 7.30pm to 9pm with an expected peak at around 8.23pm. You’ll need to drive out to the Wentworth Falls area although the exact location of the event will only be revealed on the day.
The event includes an insight into what meteor showers are, telescope viewing of planets and star clusters, constellation storytelling, astronomy binocular viewing and hot chocolate to keep you warm. Tickets will set you back by $85 per person, get yours here.