Clear viewing conditions: Lyrids meteor shower now active

The oldest meteor shower on record is now active as the Lyrids shine overhead, and early viewing conditions are positive.

Between 10 and 20 meteors an hour are to be expected as the shower peaks on April 22nd, though you can already spot the shower which lasts until April 25th.

Despite being known as shooting stars, they are nothing more than tiny pieces of material left in the wake of certain celestial bodies, such as asteroids and comets.

These objects move extremely fast at around 120,000 mph and you may be shocked to know that an estimated 25 million meteoroids enter the atmosphere each day but are far too tiny to make any impact.

The high speeds cause the meteor's surface to reach temperatures of up to 1600C and glow brightly. This is what we see as a brief streak of light in the sky.

The Lyrid meteor shower is associated with the long-lived comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. In fact, it is the oldest recorded meteor shower still visible today, first recorded in 687 BC.

The Lyrids will be visible across the sky, but if you follow their path backwards, it will look like they are coming from the constellation Lyren, which contains the star Vega.

High pressure is helping suppress cloud cover at night, clearing the skies for optimal viewing. An approaching new moon on April 20th also ensures minimal disturbance from moonlight, which can obscure smaller meteors.

Be sure to check the WeatherRadar to see current and expected cloud cover and find a perfect opening to head out under the stars.