HELLO STARSHINES,THIS MONTH IS THE LYRID METEOR SHOWER.

SHOWERS ARE NAMED FOR THE CONSTELLATIONS IN WHICH THEY’RE FOUND.

SO THIS WEEK LET’S LOOK AT THE MUSICAL MINI: LYRA THE HARP.

HIT THE SKIES ANY NIGHT THIS WEEK, AN HOUR AFTER MIDNIGHT.

IF YOU LOOK EAST YOU WILL SEE THE STARS OF LYRA RISING.

LYRA’S BRIGHTEST STAR IS VEGA; A BLUE-WHITE STAR, 25 LIGHT YEARS FROM EARTH.

THE REST OF LYRA’S STARS ARE PRETTY DIM, SO THE LATER IN THE WEEK YOU LOOK, THE LATER THE MOON WILL RISE WHICH WILL HELP.

IF IT’S VERY DARK YOU MAY SEE A PARALLELOGRAM JUST UNDERNEATH VEGA, THAT’S LYRA!

ON APRIL TWENTY SECOND AND TWENTY THIRD THE LYRID METEOR SHOWER WILL COME FROM THIS PART OF OUR SKY.

THE METEORS ARE PART OF THE TAIL OF COMET C/1861 THATCHER.

LYRIDS ARE USUALLY AVERAGE, BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN IT SHOCKS WITH HUNDREDS OF METEORS OR WITH "LYRID FIREBALLS" WHICH CAN CAST SHADOWS AND LEAVE BEHIND LINGERING SMOKE TRAILS SO COOL.

KEEP LOOKING UP!