Lyrid meteor shower to illuminate Qatar sky Tuesday

People in Qatar have a good chance of seeing the Lyrid meteor shower Tuesday, as the spectacle will illuminate the northern hemisphere skies from this evening until dawn Wednesday, Qatar Calendar House (QCH) has said.

In a statement, QCH astronomy expert Dr Beshir Marzouk said the Lyrid meteor shower is usually active every year between April 16 and 25, with its peak occurring around April 22.

According to experts on meteors showers, Lyrid is one of the important meteors showers seen from Earth.

Dr Marzouk says observing the meteor shower does not require any astronomical instruments, and people in Qatar and other places in the Northern Hemisphere can view the spectacle with their naked eye from places without light and environmental pollution.

Moreover, they need to look towards the eastern horizon from midnight until dawn on Wednesday to observe the Lyrid meteor shower.

He added that people they can take photographs of the meteor shower by using recent digital cameras, and they need to increase the exposure time get the best results.

Observing the Lyrid meteor shower this year is particularly special because the sky will be darker, with the moon rising in the Qatar sky at 4.50am local time Wednesday, according to QCH.