As meteor showers go, the Lyrids can be difficult to predict.

But it’s usually worth watching the April meteor shower, just in case, the American Meteor Society says.

The Lyrid meteor shower in 2020 will peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Best viewing is typically around dawn, but some should be visible before midnight.

A rate of 10 meteors an hour is expected, according to Space.com. But the American Meteor Society says the peak only lasts a few hours, but that Lyrid meteors tend to be bright with an occasional fireball. Outbursts have happened unexpectedly.

The Lyrids are active April 16 to 30 but rates drop off quickly outside peak hours, the meteor society says.

The Lyrid meteor shower, which peaks April 21-22, 2020, will be met with good to fair conditions in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.AccuWeather

On peak night, the moon will be a slight sliver of a crescent and will offer no competing light. The National Weather Service forecast for the Lehigh Valley shows cool but mostly clear nights both Monday and Tuesday.

After the Lyrids, the Eta Aquariids peak May 6-7 but will likely be obscured by strong moonlight. The Delta Aquariids will offer about 20 meteors an hour when that shower peaks July 29-30.

The next particularly strong meteor shower will be the Perseids in August.

(Can’t see the table above? Click here.)

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. If there’s anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.