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Lyrid meteor shower: Shooting stars and 'occasional fireballs' set to light up UK skies
Experts say the meteor shower will be visible across the UK and its peak is due to be on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
Amateur astronomers could be in for a treat this week as shooting stars are set to light up the night sky - and some could even see fireballs during the first major showers since January.
The Lyrid meteor shower is a burst of activity which takes place annually - usually around mid to late April - and is associated with the Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, according to the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
The Lyrids appear to radiate close to the constellation Lyra and are bits of rock and dust left behind by the comet.
The shower is expected to peak on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and there could be around 20 meteors an hour.
Experts also claim stargazers could see "occasional fireballs" that can be "bigger and brighter" than shooting stars, and last longer - "for between five and 10 seconds", as they say you could "blink and miss a meteor".
The showers will be visible across the UK, but those living in dark, rural areas are likely to see more than people living in cities where there is a lot of light pollution.
But due to the coronavirus lockdown, keen stargazers should only try and view the shower from their own homes.
Speaking to Sky News, astronomer Ed Bloom, from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said the "radiant of the Lyrids will be low on the horizon towards the northeast as the sun sets".
He added that people would need to have "patience" - as "it could be an hour before you see anything, so wrap up warm and get comfy in your garden".
"Over the course of the night, the radiant of the Lyrids will rise and move southwards as the earth spins, and will still be up when the sun rises."
He continued: "The three bright stars Vega, Altair and Deneb form an 'asterism' known as the Summer Triangle - they can be a useful way to orientate yourself properly."
Mr Bloom shared some tips on the best way to see the showers.
He said: "The Lyrid radiant lies close to Vega, the 'top-right' vertex of the triangle, and if you can face that, just look slightly to what will now be your right.
"Peak activity is usually around the 22 April, and will have died away completely by the end of the 26th, but that still gives us a few days leeway, so if bad weather ruins your nights' observations, give it another go!"
Experts say the meteor shower will be visible across the UK and its peak is due to be on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
Amateur astronomers could be in for a treat this week as shooting stars are set to light up the night sky - and some could even see fireballs during the first major showers since January.
The Lyrid meteor shower is a burst of activity which takes place annually - usually around mid to late April - and is associated with the Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, according to the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
The Lyrids appear to radiate close to the constellation Lyra and are bits of rock and dust left behind by the comet.
The shower is expected to peak on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and there could be around 20 meteors an hour.
Experts also claim stargazers could see "occasional fireballs" that can be "bigger and brighter" than shooting stars, and last longer - "for between five and 10 seconds", as they say you could "blink and miss a meteor".
The showers will be visible across the UK, but those living in dark, rural areas are likely to see more than people living in cities where there is a lot of light pollution.
But due to the coronavirus lockdown, keen stargazers should only try and view the shower from their own homes.
Speaking to Sky News, astronomer Ed Bloom, from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said the "radiant of the Lyrids will be low on the horizon towards the northeast as the sun sets".
He added that people would need to have "patience" - as "it could be an hour before you see anything, so wrap up warm and get comfy in your garden".
"Over the course of the night, the radiant of the Lyrids will rise and move southwards as the earth spins, and will still be up when the sun rises."
He continued: "The three bright stars Vega, Altair and Deneb form an 'asterism' known as the Summer Triangle - they can be a useful way to orientate yourself properly."
Mr Bloom shared some tips on the best way to see the showers.
He said: "The Lyrid radiant lies close to Vega, the 'top-right' vertex of the triangle, and if you can face that, just look slightly to what will now be your right.
"Peak activity is usually around the 22 April, and will have died away completely by the end of the 26th, but that still gives us a few days leeway, so if bad weather ruins your nights' observations, give it another go!"
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Some crazy lights in the Sky last night across parts of Britain 
Hear the same thing every year and I'm yet to see one...
Put the Sky Map app on your phone and use it to locate the Summer Triangle in advance so you know where to look.
Last Night were apparently Satellites , Trump most upset was about to Declare a War of the worlds
Situation ...
Some videos on line very strange looking
Situation ...
Some videos on line very strange looking
Unfortunately were out to the West , had they been east would have had a cracking View 
this is the tracker for the satellites https://www.n2yo.com/?s=40619 due at 10pm ish
no, should be ok for both, seen photos of satellites and easily visible with naked eye.
no, should be ok for both, seen photos of satellites and easily visible with naked eye.
Yes - Satellites are easy to see on a clear night.
Initially they look like the size stars - until you notice that they are moving, reasonably quickly, across the sky.
Beware on a broken cloud night, though - as the CLOUD movement can make STARS appear the they are moving, and thus mistaken for being Satellites.
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Emiteb - Forget Binoculars - By the time that your eye catches one of the meteors sliding across the sky, in a slash, or, indeed, a flash - it will be too late to find it with Binoculars.
You will easily see the, QUICK, bright line shoot across the sky.
That is why they are also called - Shooting Stars.
Initially they look like the size stars - until you notice that they are moving, reasonably quickly, across the sky.
Beware on a broken cloud night, though - as the CLOUD movement can make STARS appear the they are moving, and thus mistaken for being Satellites.
-------------
Emiteb - Forget Binoculars - By the time that your eye catches one of the meteors sliding across the sky, in a slash, or, indeed, a flash - it will be too late to find it with Binoculars.
You will easily see the, QUICK, bright line shoot across the sky.
That is why they are also called - Shooting Stars.
satellites defo tonight 10 ish, meteors should be around but more random
May see some tonight - and for a few nights this week - But ...
The shower is expected to peak on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and there could be around 20 meteors an hour.
Experts also claim stargazers could see "occasional fireballs" that can be "bigger and brighter" than shooting stars, and last longer - "for between five and 10 seconds", as they say you could "blink and miss a meteor".
The showers will be visible across the UK, but those living in dark, rural areas are likely to see more than people living in cities where there is a lot of light pollution.
-----------
Look mostly towards the NORTH-EAST
The shower is expected to peak on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and there could be around 20 meteors an hour.
Experts also claim stargazers could see "occasional fireballs" that can be "bigger and brighter" than shooting stars, and last longer - "for between five and 10 seconds", as they say you could "blink and miss a meteor".
The showers will be visible across the UK, but those living in dark, rural areas are likely to see more than people living in cities where there is a lot of light pollution.
-----------
Look mostly towards the NORTH-EAST
Venus is out and bright? is that where i should be looking around 10pm?
It was a beautiful day here today, not a cloud in the sky.
Not until now
Not until now
22:05 and 22:06 2 satellites from west to east... was one the space station?
no shooting stars, gonna try tomorrow.
no shooting stars, gonna try tomorrow.
Zero here.. but for the 2 satellites. Bit chilly out there tbh.
saw venus , mars and a bat
space station isnt due for about 9hrs
space station isnt due for about 9hrs
so what were the two stars flying east to west at 2205?
*dont get confused with satellites and the space station, 2 different things.
Shhhh, you weren’t supposed to see them.
You’ll have the men in black round if you say too much.
You’ll have the men in black round if you say too much.
Satellite's gone way up to Mars
Soon it'll be filled with parkin' cars
I watched it for a little while
I love to watch things on TV
Soon it'll be filled with parkin' cars
I watched it for a little while
I love to watch things on TV
Apr 20, 2020 -- 10:34PM, Emitdeb wrote:
so, what are satellites up to?
they are elon musks ,not sure what up to
The spectacle of satellites passing over the UK in what looks like a chain of lights should be visible for the rest of the week, space experts say.
The 60 Starlink satellites launched by Elon Musk's SpaceX firm appear in a line crossing the night sky.
They were launched into space in March but their current orbital position has made them easier to see in recent days.
Stargazers have been using apps and websites to check when they can spot the display.
SpaceX has sent 300 satellites into space so far towards a planned network of 12,000, with the aim of improving global internet coverage.
They have been taken up in batches of 60, with the most recent launch in mid-March.
The 60 Starlink satellites launched by Elon Musk's SpaceX firm appear in a line crossing the night sky.
They were launched into space in March but their current orbital position has made them easier to see in recent days.
Stargazers have been using apps and websites to check when they can spot the display.
SpaceX has sent 300 satellites into space so far towards a planned network of 12,000, with the aim of improving global internet coverage.
They have been taken up in batches of 60, with the most recent launch in mid-March.
The most recent line of satellites has been spotted in Derbyshire, Manchester, London, Leeds and across Europe, with many people sharing their excitement on social media.
The National Space Centre in Leicester said each batch was deployed to an orbit about 180 miles above Earth and had moved to about 340 miles away.
Sophie Allan, from the centre, said current good visibility was down to a combination of the batch's low orbit, clear night skies and the angle of the satellites in relation to the sun.
She said she expected this to continue for at least another five days.
Several websites and apps allow people to track the current locations of the satellites, with the next UK display expected shortly before 22:00 BST on Monday.
However, the project has been criticised by some astronomers who have branded the space technology an eyesore.
The National Space Centre in Leicester said each batch was deployed to an orbit about 180 miles above Earth and had moved to about 340 miles away.
Sophie Allan, from the centre, said current good visibility was down to a combination of the batch's low orbit, clear night skies and the angle of the satellites in relation to the sun.
She said she expected this to continue for at least another five days.
Several websites and apps allow people to track the current locations of the satellites, with the next UK display expected shortly before 22:00 BST on Monday.
However, the project has been criticised by some astronomers who have branded the space technology an eyesore.
Didn’t he send up one of his cars as a publicity stunt ?
This week’s must-see naked-eye celestial event is the Lyrid meteor shower.
This is one of the oldest meteor showers, with Chinese references dating back to more than 2,500 years ago.
Modern analysis shows that the meteors are dust ejected by Comet Thatcher, which orbits the sun once every 415 years.
Currently in the depths of the outer solar system, Comet Thatcher will return in the year 2276.
The Lyrids are an active meteor shower from 16 to 25 April, but the peak this week could happen in the early hours of 22 April or later that night as 22 becomes 23 April.
They are called Lyrids because they emanate from a point in the constellation Lyra, the lyre.
Between 10-15 moderately bright meteors are expected per hour at the storm’s peak.
The chart shows the view looking north-east from London on 22 April at 11pm BST.
Unfortunately, Lyra never rises very high in the southern hemisphere.
This will make seeing the Lyrids challenging, but not impossible.
Will we be in for a treat this week as shooting stars are set to light up the night sky?
I'll be giving it a go, was overcast last night.
The Sky Map app on my phone allows you to find a named star such as Vega, it will be my guide.
The Sky Map app on my phone allows you to find a named star such as Vega, it will be my guide.
Apr 21, 2020 -- 2:56PM, Emitdeb wrote:
Is it worth looking tonight? is what i meant..
yes, satellites meant to be bunched tonight , so hopefully easier to spot, im giving it a go.
In London, at 8.58pm and 4:04 am, the satellites should be visible. They will make another appearance on the 9.34pm on Wednesday for six minutes.
Trains of lights in the night sky from SpaceX satellites have been stunning stargazers across the UK this week.
The satellites are part of a scheme by Elon Musk's SpaceX to use a mega-constellation of satellites to provide a global broadband internet service.
People across the UK and Europe have reported seeing the unique lights in recent days as the craft passed over in low orbit – and there's another change to see them tonight.
Trains of lights in the night sky from SpaceX satellites have been stunning stargazers across the UK this week.
The satellites are part of a scheme by Elon Musk's SpaceX to use a mega-constellation of satellites to provide a global broadband internet service.
People across the UK and Europe have reported seeing the unique lights in recent days as the craft passed over in low orbit – and there's another change to see them tonight.
https://earthsky.org/space/spacex-starlink-satellite-over-europe-apr-19-2020
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its 8.58 up here too, problem is wont be completely dark. also angle to see them is quite low. back round after 10pm and classes as bright ie more visible
Maybe it's gonna be something bigger and more sinister than a meteor shower...
*and that's why they have the world lockdown..... Or maybe I have watched too many daft films
*and that's why they have the world lockdown..... Or maybe I have watched too many daft films
I just saw them. I saw 5 "stars" moving across the sky in a line.
nothing for me up here, back around about 10.30ish apparently
I didnt see a sixth at the same interval that all the others were at,so I went indoors as I was freezing in my shorts. I timed it at 9.02
see 3 at 8:55 2 intandem 1 just behind.... about 9:05 the string started. It was a case of looking at 12 o'clock, straight up virtually... incredible but I suppose something that's gonna become very ordinary very soon..
can't believe how clear and detailed the sky is these days ...wonder if the lack of pollution is helping
morpteh, they were running way south of Venus.. was you looking in the right place? 
Im in Stoke, they were about a third of the way up the sky, certainly not overhead.
The sky during the day is noticeably clearer and alot more blue due to lack of vapour trails off those pesky planes
The sky during the day is noticeably clearer and alot more blue due to lack of vapour trails off those pesky planes
Venus was almost directly behind me as I looked at them
Are these showers about half way up the sky to the roof in a North easterly direction. Looks a bit hazy to me, bit of light pollution spoiling it too
700 miles high (seems high) Directly over London... Tame got them in Stoke...
Lyra was the constellation jodie Foster went in the movie Contact. Decent movie
Given up on those Showers... I look every year, Never seen a sausage.
The meteor showers were last night ? Im on about the satellites tonight
Main road that's past my street has yellow lights, tis a spoiler, but will have another 15 minutes out there at 10.15
Been out again, is it meant to be where there's a big twinkling star but it's too hazy cos of the road. Should do lock down lights out for a few hours
Too cold to stop out for more than a couple of mins. Saw nothing
I am watching 'Day of the Triffids' on Freeview 81. I hope this Meteor shower does not blind us.
We have enough problems with the virus.
We have enough problems with the virus.
nowt here again, did see saturn though ( had me bins so could see rings )
At only 20 or so an hour I fear this thread has peoples expectations up too high, Geminids in Dec over 100 and even then you have to have decent weather, suppose the clear skies give a good chance atm but still no certantanty you gunna see anything,although perhaps that's the challenge. Anyone see starlink tonight?
Don't forget, for best results, you need to take your protein pills and put your helmet 
some more satellites being launched tonight from florida. be nee space left .
This is a Serious Scientific Fred. Let's give it the respect it deserves...
SpaceX will launch 60 new Starlink internet satellites into orbit on a used rocket today (April 22) and you can watch it all live online.
20:37 but I'm not certain that's the correct time..
21:34 tonight another fly by...
20:37 but I'm not certain that's the correct time..
21:34 tonight another fly by...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLUFxTF_VRg
Countdown... 10 minutes!!
Countdown... 10 minutes!!
219 km high, travelling at 27,130 km ph... looks like it's heading for Newcastle!
We do have a clear sky tonight though, darkness closing in.
21:36... should see 40 satellites flying west to east, 30 seconds apart. 
nowt again, , but did see hedgehog. which was nice.
, but did see hedgehog. which was nice.
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