Meteor shower from Mexico: how and when to see the Líridas

A new astronomical event can be seen from Mexico during the month of April 2022, because this time, citizens passionate about space will be able to observe the transit of hundreds of meteorites with the naked eye.

Popularly known as the rain of Líridas, this spatial phenomenon is one of the oldest in human history around the Earth, mainly because of its ease of perception, so once again we can observe the passage of these comets.

Despite the fact that rain has been visible since April 16, the day marked by NASA to pay attention to them is Friday, April 22, the day on which a peak of up to 20 meteorites per hour is expected, the maximum estimated for this phenomenon in the month of April.

According to the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE), the highest peak of the passage of comets in the Mexican sky will begin at 23:00 hours; however, because the moon will be its last quarter, its light could hinder the optimal visibility of comets.

The average of 18 meteorites per hour will be maintained until 6:30 in the morning on Saturday, April 23, so that throughout the night you can find the right place to observe this rain naturally, although it is also possible to observe them with a telescope and direct them to the point of origin, in the middle of the Constellation of Lyra and Hercules, with the support of some application.

To be able to perceive them with the naked eye, it is recommended to move away from any area surrounded by artificial light, as well as looking for a space that is not cloudy and shaded by the moon, something that could even be manufactured at the moment, with the aim of minimizing its brightness towards the eye as much as possible.

Additionally, NASA usually recommends adapting vision to the dark of night, in a process that could take up to 30 minutes, so the ideal scenario is to be away from a city and take the time to observe the sky.

The meteorites of this rain are the remains of comets and fragments of broken asteroids. “When comets go around the sun, they leave a trail of dust behind them,” explains the US body. Every year, the Earth passes through these traces of debris, allowing the fragments to collide with our atmosphere, where they disintegrate to create streaks of fire and colors in the sky.

In the particular case of this rain of Líridas, the comets that can be seen come from the comet Thatcher, known in the astronomical guild as 1861 G1, which takes 415 years to go around the Sun completely.

The name of Líridas is due to the place where they come from, since they start from the constellation Lyra, one of the oldest in history, so the astronomical phenomenon has been classified as one of the best known among comet lovers.

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