(WXYZ) — Each year we get several chances to see excitement in the night time sky. It has been a longer wait than normal though this year. The Lyrid meteor shower peaks tonight after a drought of meteors so far this year, with the last show that occurred happening in early January.
Overnight, you need to look high in the northeast sky in the early morning hours around 3 a.m. to get your best look. Debris from Comet Thatcher runs through the earth's orbit and gives us a chance to make a wish on a "falling star." The pace of meteors should be around 15 to 20 per hour as the meteors streak across the sky at a speed of 110,000 mph. When they hit the earth's upper atmosphere, the friction heats them up and they glow.
To give yourself the best chance tonight of seeing them, you should get to the darkest place you can and give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark. Stay off of your phone too because that little light will still not allow your eyes to adjust the best they can. Unfortunately, last night would have been a better night as far as the weather is concerned to see more meteors, but you still may get a chance tonight. Clouds will be increasing overnight from the west, so getting out to take a look a little earlier than the peak would be smart. Heading farther northeast in our area will help, too.
NASA will livestream the meteor shower here.
Good luck and happy hunting.
