Astronomy enthusiasts will be rewarded for waking up at 2am on 25 April, when a bright meteor shower will clearly be visible in the Autum sky. On a clear night and with the naked eye, one can easily see sporadic meteors appearing in the sky at random.
To many of us these are shooting stars and we make a wish, secretly hoping it comes true.
The April Lyrids are visible in our skies this week, named as such for the spot in space where they originate from: the constellation Lyra.
A meteor shower takes place when a group of meteors from a particular section in the sky seemingly falling together in parallel paths.
Particles of space dust, or small bodies, orbit the sun and sometimes plunge at high speed into Earth’s atmosphere. They give rise to streaks of light known as meteors or shooting stars. These heavenly bodies are referred to as meteorites if large enough, enter our atmosphere and fall to the surface of Earth.
According to the Astronomical Association of South Africa, most meteors vaporise during descent, but a few do survive and strike the Earth.
Once a meteorite lands on South African territory, it belongs to the state (Act 25 of 1999) and is protected by the South African Heritage Resources Agency. Trading in South African meteorites is illegal.
Details: West Rand Astronomy club chairperson Kenny Neville 
