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Every year in mid to late April, the night sky puts on a dazzling show — The April Lyrids, a meteor shower that has been observed for more than 2,700 years.Peaking around April 21st to 22nd, the Lyrids offer a beautiful celestial display, with 15 to 20 meteors per hour under dark, clear skies. What makes them special isn’t just the frequency, but the brilliant, fast-moving meteors, often leaving glowing trails that linger for seconds.Origin and HistoryThe Lyrids originate from Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, a long-period comet that orbits the Sun roughly every 415 years. As Earth crosses the debris trail left by the comet, those tiny fragments — some no larger than grains of sand — burn up in our atmosphere, creating flashes of light.What’s fascinating is that this meteor shower has been documented since at least 687 BC, making it one of the oldest recorded meteor showers in human history. Ancient Chinese astronomers were among the first to take note of it.Best Time to WatchPeak nights: April 21–22Best time: After midnight, especially a few hours before dawnWhere to look: The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Lyra, near the bright star Vega, but they can streak across the entire sky.What to ExpectWhile the Lyrids don’t usually match the intensity of summer's Perseids or December’s Geminids, they have a reputation for the unexpected. Every few decades, they surprise observers with an outburst, producing up to 100 meteors per hour.So, if you're lucky enough to be under clear, dark skies in April, lie back, look up, and let the universe remind you of its quiet, ancient wonders. ✨