Lyrid meteor shower
How can I see meteors?
The best way to learn about meteors is to go look at actual meteors falling into Earth’s atmosphere. You can just look up at the sky and see meteors without a telescope or anything. Three things though: first, you need to be someplace where it’s pretty dark.
What are meteors?
What is the atmosphere?
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Where should I go to see meteors?
Downtown in a big city, you can hardly see the stars at all, and you’re not going to be able to see very many meteors. Drive out to the country, or to the beach. Or at least go to the middle of a big park. You’ll also want a night when the moon isn’t too close to full, or the moonlight will make it hard to see the meteors.
What are stars made of?
Why does the moon get full and then wane?
Meteor shower video
When is a good night to see meteors?
Second, meteors don’t fall evenly, a few every night. They fall in groups, a lot on some nights and very few on other nights. Astronomers can predict what nights will have a lot of meteors. Here’s a calendar of good meteor-watching nights. If you can, choose a night where there will be no moon to light up the sky. Then you will be able to see the meteors more easily.
What time of night should I look for meteors?
Third, you can see meteors better in the last part of the night, just before dawn. So it’s better to get a good night’s sleep and then wake up early, before dawn, to see meteors (this will be easier in the wintertime when the nights are longer!).
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More about meteors
Bibliography and further reading about meteors:
