Great shots of Lyrid meteor shower captured over Orpington

Meteors were captured hurtling over Orpington just before dawn on April 22, lighting up the sky.

Lyrid meteors hurtling over Orpington - Stephen Sangster

The Lyrid meteor shower are the first major meteor shower of the year, and providing the weather stays clear, stargazers should have a good chance of seeing a shooting star.

Expected to peak around 1pm on Thursday, astronomers say the best chance to catch the celestial display is after sunset, or in the early morning as with these brilliant shots taken over Orpington.

Lyrid meteors hurtling over Orpington - Stephen Sangster

Tania de Sales Marques, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told the PA news agency: "Since the peak occurs during the day the best time to try to spot the shower will be before sunrise on the 22nd or after sunset.

Lyrid meteors hurtling over Orpington - Stephen Sangster

"It is expected that this meteor shower will produce around 18 meteors per hour."

However, she added that the Moon will be at a waxing gibbous phase, meaning that it will be quite bright in the sky, "so conditions won't be very favourable".

Meteor showers, or shooting stars, are caused when pieces of debris, known as meteorites, enter Earth's atmosphere at speeds of around 43 miles per second, burning up and causing streaks of light.

The Lyrids takes its name from the constellation of Lyra the Harp, where the shooting stars appear to originate from.

These meteors are pieces of debris falling from the Thatcher Comet, which is expected to return to the inner solar system in 2276, after an orbital period of 415 years.

Ms de Sales Marques told PA: "The Lyrids have been observed as far back as 687 BC, the oldest known record of any meteor showers still visible today.

The Lyrid Meteor Shower - PA

"It is a moderate shower with the occasional fireballs, nicknamed the Lyrid Fireballs."

Those waiting to catch a glimpse of the meteors will also be able to spot Vega, which is Lyra's brightest star.

Ms de Sales Marques told PA: "Vega is one of the brightest stars in the sky and one of three stars that make up the Summer Triangle.

"This recognisable asterism will be easy to find in the pre-dawn sky."

According to astronomers, the best way to see meteor showers is to be as far away from artificial lights as possible.

Ms de Sales Marques told PA: "It is worth mentioning that meteors will be visible all over the sky, not just in the direction of the radiant, so to maximise your chance of spotting meteors, try to find a safe place that has an unobstructed view of the whole sky.

PA

"As with any stargazing, you'll need to allow at least 15 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark."

The Lyrids occur between 16-25 April every year.

If you manage to take any photos of the meteor display, please send them in to jamie.bennett-ness@newsquest.co.uk so we can share them too!