The 2012 Lyrids meteor shower is expected to put on a humble show at best. However, the Lyrids have been known to surprise on rare occasions, having outbursts of up to 60 meteors an hour. This year, a New Moon moon is slated to create less than desired circumstances for those observing the annual meteor shower, but if you’ve been craving a celestial event since the Quadrantids in January, you may be pleased after viewing just a few meteors in the night sky.

For the best viewing experience, find an area unobstructed by structures and that is far away from city lights. Using binoculars or telescopes is not recommended; you’ll be more likely to miss a shooting star whizzing by. Once you have settled down at your observation spot, face toward the northeastern portion of the sky. Meteors will appear to originate from a point (the radiant) in the sky within close proximity to the constellation Lyra. Similarly, this is where the Lyrids get their names.

On average, and under clear skies, observers should see 5 to 15 meteors per hour; but rarely these rates can exceed up to 20 meteors per hour in rural locations. During ideal conditions, the Lyrids meteor shower should be a pleasant viewing experience. The clickable sky map below shows the night sky looking northeast around midnight on April 22th, 2012, the peak of the Lyrids meteor shower.

In 2012, the Lyrids will occur during a moonless sky, so those of you who missed the show last year will get a perfect opportunity to watch it this year. Those viewing in the southern hemisphere will see less Lyrid activity than those residing in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, the radiant will be located low in the northern sky, while in the northern hemisphere the radiant will appear to be overhead. Best of luck to everyone staying out to watch the event. We hear from people who’ve seen fantastic meteors in light of the moon.