Lyrid meteor shower:
Spectacular phenomenon lights up skies
Thousands of stargazers have been stunned to see the brightest
Lyrid Meteor shower for years in broad daylight.
The annual April "shooting star" display hit its peak at the weekend
while the moon was in its dark, new phase - offering observers with
clear weather an amazing chance to witness the Lyrids.
Even in daylight the Lyrids were discernable to the naked eye in some spots.
Thousands of residents across two US states were lucky enough
to see the brightest meteor shower for years.
Unfortunately for Britons cloudy skies put paid to any clear sightings of the incredible
phenomenon, but it was visible for hundreds of miles across northern Nevada and parts of
California at around 8.30am on Sunday.
Social media sites were abuzz as many described seeing a "fireball" streaking across the sky
from east to west followed by a "big boom" - prompting a flood of calls to emergency services
in the two states.
Every April Earth passes through a stream of dust left behind by the comet Thatcher.
The comet dust which makes up the Lyrids can reach speeds of up to 110,000 mph (177,027 kph)
as it slams into Earth's atmosphere, causing it to ignite, often noisily, as dazzling meteors.
Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Society said: "It happens all the time,
but most are in daytime and are missed. This one was extraordinarily bright in the daylight."
Residents reported a "fireball" streaking across the sky from east to west followed by a "big boom" in California …
Reno resident, Ellen Pillard was hiking in the mountains, when she spotted the bright object
streaking across the sky. She recalled: "I was out ... hiking in the mountains (and) saw this great, big,
white ball streaming across the sky to the west. Then it just disappeared.
The eye-witness told the Chronicle how she heard a "boom", adding:
"It was just amazing. I thought maybe I was dreaming."
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