Lyrids Meteor Shower 2013: Peak Time Tonight, Watch Live April 22
UPDATE: Watch the live stream of the meteors in the video provided below tonight (April 22-23) starting 8:30 p.m. ET.
The 2013 Lyrids meteor shower will peak late Sunday evening and will continue until to the early hours of Monday, April 22.
The best time to watch the Lyrid meteor showers will be in the early hours of April 22, just after the moon sets but before the sun rises. Step out at 4 a.m. - 4.30 a.m. to catch the best meteor show, where the Lyrids will directly overhead in the night sky.
The best way to view the Lyrid meteor shower is to lay on your back and look straight up. It is expected to be a chilly night so spectators should make sure they wrap up warm and be sure to stay away from city lights that can spoil the viewing.
The Lyrids began on April 16 and will continue until April 25 but its peak is over this weekend. Star gazers will be able to see up to 20 meteors per hour and can even reach up to 100 meteors per hour. The Lyrids will leave bright visible trails.
The meteors come from the constellation Lyra and the shower can be spotted in the eastern sky Sunday night.
The Lyrid meteor shower happens every year in the middle of April when the Earth passes dusty debris from the Comet Thatcher. This meteor shower has been observed by mankind for at least 2,600 years.
But stargazers may be disappointed as the bright glow of the moon tonight may spoil the meteor shower. The brightness of the moon will prevent some Lyrid meteors from being viewed.
