"Anticipating the 2024 Lyrid Meteor Shower: What to Expect This Weekend"

The annual Lyrid meteor shower is set to peak on April 22, but this year's display is expected to be hindered by a bright waxing gibbous moon, making it difficult to see all but the brightest meteors. The Lyrids are known for their fast and brilliant meteors, with an average velocity of 30 miles per second, and about 5 to 10 meteors can usually be seen each hour under good skies. These meteors are debris left behind by the long-departed comet Thatcher, and their paths appear to diverge from a spot near the star Vega in the constellation of Lyra. While the Lyrids are typically a weak display, they have a history of surprising observers, making them worth watching.