Meteor shower to light up Vietnamese skies tonight
VOV.VN - Vietnamese astronomy lovers will have the chance to watch the Lyrids meteor shower as it reaches its peak between nightfall and dawn from April 22 to April 23 (local time).
According to usatoday.com, the Lyrids are one of the oldest known Metroid showers, initially beginning on April 15 and running through to April 29.
The first recorded sighting occurred in 687 BCE by Chinese astronomers.
Providing that the sky is dark and the moon is absent during this year’s show, the website noted that at its peak viewers can expect to see 10 to 15 Lyrids each hour.
Meteor showers in Vietnam can even be seen with the naked eye without any harm. Observers are therefore recommended to get to a place where artificial lights do not obstruct the viewing experience.
According to NASA, the Lyrid meteor is caused by debris from a comet which is thought to originate in the Oort Cloud. The source of the meteor shower is particles of dust which have been shed by the long-period Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which orbits the sun once every 415 years.
