If Clouds Don't Cooperate, Learn How To Hear Tonight's Lyrid Meteor Shower

DENVER (CBS4) - Have you ever listened to a meteor shower?

Honestly, prior to writing this story, I didn't know this was even possible.

For those who might find it too cloudy to see tonight's peak of the Lyrid meteor shower, there is a way you can potentially hear it.

Read on for more details.

Ron Hranac, President of the Denver Astronomical Society, says meteor showers are some of the easiest-to-observe events in space because you do not need fancy binoculars or a telescope.

All you need is the cooperation of Mother Nature and a good view of the sky.

WHEN TO VIEW

The best time to view the Lyrids is tonight (April 22) between 11:00 p.m. and sunrise Thursday morning.

The best place to see a meteor shower is in a dark location away from city lights.

Hranac says to lay down on a blanket, air mattress or lawn chair and look straight up so your peripheral vision captures a large view of the sky.

This particular shower typically produces about 15 meteors per hour during its peak although it has been known to get as high as 90 per hour.

The Lyrids can also produce the occasional fireball, which is a very bright meteor that is caused by a meteoroid on the order of a half inch to an inch in diameter.

IF IT'S CLOUDY, TRY AND LISTEN

If Mother Nature doesn't cooperate with clear skies, try listening to the shower by clicking here.

You can hear meteor 'pings' which happen when radio signals bounce off of the ionized columns of air produced as meteoroids zip through the atmosphere and create meteors.

Sometimes it's possible to hear meteor pings on an FM radio if you're tuned to a clear spot on the dial where there is no local station.

If you're lucky enough to catch a meteor ping, you'll hear a brief blip of a distant FM station, allowing you to hear a syllable or two of someone talking, or a note or two of music.

If you're interested in meteors and would like to learn more, a good place to start is the American Meteor Society's website.

There is also a great app available for iPhones and iPads called the "Meteor Shower Guide."

Meteorologist Chris Spears writes about stories related to weather and climate in Colorado. Check out his bio or follow him on Twitter @ChrisCBS4.