In the upcoming weeks, Coloradans will have the chance to see one of the oldest recorded meteor showers in the night sky.
Lyrid Meteor Shower is expected to peak on April 21 at the night of and into the following morning. It is also likely that stray Lyrid meteors will be visible in days leading up to and following the peak.
The Meteor Shower, named for the constellation Lyra, Lyra is one of the oldest meteor showers on record, according to timeanddate.com. The Lyrid Meteor shower is caused by debris from the comet Thatcher, whose 415-year orbit around the sun. According to historical Chinese literature, the shower was first spotted more than 2,500 years ago, with the actual comet not being again visible from Earth until 2,276.
The Lyrid shower can produce surges of around 100 meteors per hour, according to a report by EarthSky.org.
On clear and dark nights, the shower can be observed without special stargazing equipment.
Find a dark and quiet place with little light pollution to best watch the shower. And Do not forget to tell someone where you will be or bring along a friend if you intend on adventuring into natural spaces for the shower. Remember, spring nights can be freezing in Colorado, so pack for the potential of dramatic weather changes.