The Lyrid meteor shower is in full swing this week. Every year from April 15th to 29th, dozens of shooting stars streak across the sky in this spectacular show.
The meteor shower was most active Sunday night into Monday morning, but will remain visible into next week.
On Tuesday evening, Lyra will focus on April’s Full Moon, also known as the “Pink Moon.” This full moon will rise at 7:49 p.m. ET.
This supermoon isn’t actually pink, but it’s very bright. It’s a spectacular sight in itself, but being able to see it during a meteor shower is an astronomically rare opportunity.
Here are some tips to maximize your chances of spotting a shooting star.
Timing is key
According to NASA, the best time to view the Lyrid meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere is in the early morning hours, after moonset and before sunrise.
If you plan to wake up before sunrise on Wednesday, around 5:45 a.m. ET, you’ll have the best chance of seeing the constellation Lyra. At this time, the moon will not overshadow them with its bright shine.
However, if you want to spot some shooting stars on Tuesday evening when the pink moon is still shining, you’ll need to make your surroundings as dark as possible.
Get out of town
Light pollution can make it difficult to see meteor showers. If possible, NASA advises that it’s best to find a vantage point far away from street lights or streetlights.
Once you have decided on a location, lie on your back with your feet facing east and look at the sky as far away as possible. Make sure there are no branches or buildings blocking your view.
Then please wait. It takes about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness, after which meteors may appear.
But again, stargazers may not be able to see as many stars as they expected due to the bright “pink” supermoon. Nevertheless, the moon puts on a show of its own.