Starwatch: the Lyrid meteor shower is about to reach its peak

There may not be many of them, but they can be very bright and fast, and viewing conditions look promising

The Lyrid meteor shower will reach its peak in the early hours of 23 April. Created by dust from the tail of comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher), the Lyrids are not usually vast in number - only about 18 an hour are expected - but they are often very bright and fast moving. Some of the more spectacular ones are known to burn up so brightly that they cast shadows.

This year, viewing conditions are expected to be good because the moon has just 9% of its surface illuminated, so even faint meteors will be visible. Occasionally, brief outbursts of 100 meteors an hour have been recorded for the Lyrids. The last report of such an outburst came from the US in 1982 and before that Japan in 1945, and Greece in 1922.