Those who enjoy watching the sky for "shooting stars" will have an opportunity this weekend to observe an old and reliable meteor display: The April Lyrids.
These meteors are among the oldest known, with ancient records of them dating back nearly 27 centuries. The Lyrid meteor shower is also the first significant meteor shower to appear since the Quadrantid meteor shower, which made its appearance on January 3. Since that time — almost 16 weeks — the celestial calendar has been devoid of any significant meteor displays.
