Sky Event #12

Lyrids Meteor Shower

Tonight we will enjoy the peak of the amazing, annual Lyrids Meteor Shower! Thus, 

While it isn't going to be a meteor "storm" (100+ meteors per hour), the annual Lyrids Meteor Shower usually produces about 20 meteors per hour. 

The epicenter of the shower will be located in the constellation of Lyra (Kinnor, in Hebrew), which appropriately happens to be one of the decans of Qesheth - our featured constellation for the month of April. Thus, to better understand the spiritual significance of this sky event, we need to refresh our understanding of the spiritual meaning of Kinnor (Lyra).

As I explained in my blog from April 2, the first decan of Qesheth is Kinnor (Lyra), the harp (or lyre) of praise to God. Certainly, we know that God is worthy of praise all the time. But this constellation isn’t just a general reminder that God is worthy of our praise. Kinnor is about praising specifically, for defeating the powers of darkness, and for giving us the victory.

The same wonderful God who carried the Children of Israel out of Egypt on the “Eagles’ wings” (Exodus 19:4) of swift deliverance also sets His children free from spiritual bondage. This delivering Work is portrayed in the white horse and Rider of Qesheth. And in the Kinnor harp we are invited to praise God for His saving Work that is completed for us.

Kinnor (Lyra) is a small constellation located in the fourth quadrant of the northern hemisphere. It can be seen at latitudes between +90° and -40°. Kinnor contains Vega, which is the 
second brightest star in the northern hemisphere.

The original name of this constellation is found in the following verses:

Psalm 43:4 “Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp (Kinnor) will I praise thee, O God my God..”  

Psalm 147:7 “Sing unto Yahweh with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp (Kinnor) unto our God.”

With that background, we see that the annual Lyrids Meteor Shower is extra special, spiritually speaking. For it is an annual celebration - a heavenly reminder for rejoicing in our Saviour for all that He has done! Bearing this in mind, let's return to some of the scientific details about this shower. 

Typically, the Lyrids Meteor Shower has anywhere from 10-20 meteors per hour at its peak. As I've mentioned, this year's peak will be in the early morning hours (pre-dawn tomorrow morning). Naturally, being the time of Unleavened Bread, the waning gibbous moon will be shining brightly. Thus, we can expect that some of the shower's intensity will be washed out by the light of the moon. For this reason, it is probably best to look for meteors earlier tonight.

Rarely does the Lyrids Meteor Shower turn into a storm. And it is not expected to do so this year. In 1982, American observers did see an outburst of nearly 100 Lyrid meteors per hour. And about that many meteors per hour were seen in Greece in 1922 and from Japan in 1945.

One notable thing about meteors from the Lyrids Meteor Shower is that about a quarter of them leave what astronomers call "persistent trains". While observing the meteor, notice whether it leaves a persistent train - that is, an ionized gas trail that glows for a few seconds after the meteor has passed.

As you have probably guessed, the Lyrids Meteor Shower is named for the constellation from which it visually appears to originate: Lyra (which we know was originally called Kinnor). 

If you trace the paths of all the Lyrid meteors backward, they seem to radiate from the constellation Kinnor (Lyra), near its brightest star Vega. In Hebrew, Vega is called Room, meaning "He shall be exalted". This star name is found in Psalm 18:46. I will conclude with this Psalm today, as it completely sums up the Heavenly Message in tonight's Lyrids Meteor Shower, shooting forth from Room (Vega):

Psalm 18:46-49  "Yahweh liveth; and blessed be my Rock; and let the God of my Salvation be exalted (Room). It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: Thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Yahweh, among the heathen, and sing praises unto Thy Name." 

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