One of the oldest known meteor showers is tearing through the skies above California.
The Lyrid meteor shower was first recorded in 687 BC and has been studied for more than 2,000 years, according to NASA.
The meteor shower takes place every year in April, with its peak on Monday this year.
This is the best way to catch a glimpse of this heavenly event.
What is a meteor?
Meteors are essentially debris in the sky. They come from leftover comets and broken asteroids, NASA says.
When the Earth passes through the meteors every year, they disintegrate.
“As they burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, the meteors leave behind bright streaks in the sky that are commonly called ‘shooting stars,’” NASA said on its website.
According to NASA, this is why meteor showers occur around the same time of year.
When is the Lyrid meteor shower?
According to NASA, the Lyrid meteor shower occurs between April 16 and 25 every year.
The next peak will be Monday evening.
“As with most meteor showers, the peak viewing time will be before sunrise, but the Lyrids will become visible starting around 10:30 p.m. local time,” NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke told Space.com.
What’s the best way to view a meteor shower in California?
In the Northern Hemisphere, according to NASA, the best time to catch a glimpse of the Lyrids is to look up at the night sky during the darkest hours of the day.
This is after moonset or before sunrise.
An average Lyrid shower can produce 15 to 20 meteors per hour, according to Space.com, and can be visible to the naked eye.
To get the best view, NASA said to do the following:
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Find an area away from city lights or street lights.
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Bring a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair.
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Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.
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Wait about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark.
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