The Lyrids Meteor Shower is active from 16th to 25th April and is known for its fast and bright meteors, with occasional fireballs. 

Meteor showers are named after the constellation where the “shooting stars” appear to be coming from. In the case of the Lyrids, the meteors come from the direction of the constellation of Lyra. If you have a handy smartphone app that helps you identify objects in the night sky, search for Lyra, and you’ll be looking in the right location.

Lyra is below the horizon for most of the night and low to the horizon for the remainder. This means that the meteors are also very low to the horizon, which makes viewing them difficult. If you’re in the north of WA, you have a far better chance of seeing meteors from the Lyrids. The Lyrids are forecast to produce up to 18 meteors per hour with rare surges.

When and where to look:

The peak of about 18 meteors/hour is from 2am on 22 April. Low to the north eastern and northern horizon.

Unfortunately, a bright last quarter Moon will make it difficult to view the Lyrids this year. You’re unlikely to see many meteors.

What is a meteor shower?

A meteor (commonly called a “shooting star”) is an unexpected, brief streak of light seen in our night sky. It’s caused when space debris, travelling up to 75km per second, enters Earth’s atmosphere. The debris can be as small as a grain of sand which burns up in the atmosphere and causes a bright streak of light to appear briefly in our night sky.

A meteor shower is a celestial spectacle where large numbers of meteors, or “shooting stars”, streak across the night sky. These dazzling events occur when Earth passes through the the trail of debris left by a comet or other object that has come into our Solar System and orbited around the Sun. Visible to the naked eye, meteor showers offer a mesmerizing display of bright streaks, adding a touch of cosmic wonder to the night. 

Where’s the best place to see the meteor shower?

The best place to see a meteor shower is away from bright city lights and when the night sky is dark with no moonlight. Bright moonlight and light pollution makes it harder to see fainter meteors, however you may still be able to see the brighter ones.

Travel out to a dark sky location at one of WA’s Astrotourism Towns. If you’re an astrophotographer, it is an excellent opportunity to image meteors over some of WA’s iconic landscapes. Where are WA’s Astrotourism Towns? 

You don’t need a telescope or binoculars to see a meteor shower. It’s a great time to gather with friends, roll out your favourite picnic rug, pack the drinks and snacks, and start counting how many “shooting stars” you all see! The predicted hourly rate of meteors presumes you’re viewing them in a perfectly dark sky and that the shower is directly overhead. Fingers crossed for a spectacular show!

Something interesting

Observed for at least 2,600 years, the Lyrids are the longest observed meteor shower. For the Boorong clan of north-western Victoria, the constellation of Lyra was the ancestral Malleefowl, Neilloan, and she taught people when to look for Malleefowl eggs. The Lyrids meteor shower coincides with the time the Malleefowl start to build their elaborate nests, with the streaks of the meteor shower itself resembling a bird kicking up sand as she builds a nest.

Image shows Neilloan, the Mallee fowl, which is based around Vega, the fifth brightest star in the night sky. Neilloan is far to the north.
Image credit: John Morieson ‘Stars over Tyrell: The Case Study of the Boorong

You might like to…

Become a citizen scientist and report meteor sightings! If you happen to see a very bright meteor (often referred to as a “fireball”), WA’s Fireballs in the Sky team based at Curtin University would love to know! Report your fireball sighting with the International Meteor Organization.

The International Meteor Organization is a great place to discover more about all things meteors. Check out their Meteor Shower Calendar. You might even like to become a member!

Where's the Best Place to see a Meteor Shower?

You need a good dark night sky for the best view! Choose an Astrotourism Town destination. Happy meteor hunting!