Kathmandu, April 14:

People would be able to see numerous shooting stars in the northeast sky from April 15 to 28, as Lyrid meteor shower begins tomorrow. The shower would peak on April 22 and 23.

Lyrid meteor shower occurs in late April every year when Earth crosses the orbital path of Comet Thatcher. The shower is a result of a fall of bits and pieces from this comet into the Earth’s atmosphere. These particles, vapourised and lightened up, while plunging into

the earth’s atmosphere are seen as meteors in the night.

The shower could be seen from any part of the country, no matter from which part of the country you belong to. However the best time to see the shower would be hours before the dawn on April 22 and April 23, according to officials at the Nepal Astronomical Society.

“We would witness the meteor shower after the rise of constellation Lyra in northeast at around 11pm. But the best time to

view the shower is after 3 am,” said Suresh Bhattarai of the Nepal Astronomical Society.

The meteor shower has taken its name from Lyrid — the Harp — since the radiant of the meteor shower is located in the constellation Lyra. This shower is believed to be one of the oldest meteor showers that have been observed for the past 2,600 years.

We could see 15-20 fast moving bright meteors during the peak of the shower. Lyrid meteors are typically as bright as the stars during the peak, Bhattarai added. However meteor showers cannot be predicted, he said, adding up to 90 meteors per hour were seen during the Lyrid shower in 1982.

“If weather permits we can enjoy the shower across the nation, but the moonlight is likely to create some problem to view the shower as it is almost full in the sky,” he said, adding, “First time viewers may be disappointed due to the moon light.”