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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Sophie Buchan

Lyrid meteor shower visible this weekend and where in Glasgow you can spot the phenomenon

You may way to take a look at the night sky very soon - as you may be in for a nice surprise.

If you're free in just a few days time and are prepared to wait, then get ready for this year’s Lyrids, the oldest recorded meteor shower.

Best viewed between April 22-23, according to UK Meteor Network, people can expect to see the stunning showers with it said to have been first recorded in 687 BC by Chinese astronomers.

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A meteor is a streak of light in the sky caused by a meteoroid crashing through Earth's atmosphere whilst meteoroids are lumps of rock or iron that orbit the sun. But with the Lyrid meteor shower now being a hot topic of discussion, what is it, when can we see it and how? Here's what you need to know.

What is the Lyrid meteor shower?

According to UK Meteor Network, "as the comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) orbits the sun, it leaves a trail of debris which the Earth crashes into every April. When the debris burns up in our atmosphere, it produces the meteor shower that we call the Lyrids."

At its peak, the Lyrids can produce 18 meteors per hour and due to their bright nature with long trails, there’s a good chance of seeing one that becomes a fireball.

The best time and date to see the Lyrid meteor shower in 2023

The best time to see the Lyrids in 2023 is early on April 23. This week, that falls on a Sunday.

Viewing conditions this weekend are set to be decent with the Moon being only nine per cent full on April 22.

The Lyrids first began appearing April 15 so you may have already seen them. However as the peak date approaches, the number of meteors will increase steadily each night until they drop off rapidly before finishing completely by the end of this month on April 30.

How can I see the Lyrid meteor shower from Glasgow - and the rest of the UK?

Thankfully you do not need special equipment and can see it with the naked eye.

In terms of preparing for it, people are always advised to check out the weather so they can adapt for weather condition such as rain, hail or wind.

It is recommended that you find a nearby location that is low in pollution and away from buildings, trees, and street lights.

There is no single-point in the sky from which it will appear so it's best to keep an eye out everywhere, have a camera ready and relax as you could be there for hours.

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