Visible meteor showers, or Lyrids, are now visible until the 25th of April. Those who observe the phenomenon are expected to see approximately 10 to 20 meteors per hour.
Sandro Correia, from the Madeira Astronomy Association, explained that it is a ‘shower of stars or star showers, that are made up of small meteor particles. When they enter our atmosphere, they ignite, leaving a trail in the sky.”
The Lyrids are named after the constellation Lyra. “They are called lyrids because it seems that they come from a certain specific direction of the sky, in this case Lyra, and are therefore known as Lyrids.”
The phenomenon occurs every year between the 14th and 30th of April, with the peak of activity happening on the 15th to the 16th. During its peak, observers can expect to see around 100 meteors per hour. However, the intensity of the showers can be determined by the moon. If there is a full moon, star showers are harder to see.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
