April 25, 2025

“The quality of mercy is not strained; it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,” wrote William Shakespeare. With the peak of April’s famous meteor shower on April 22, the day before Shakespeare’s birthday, “dropping from the heaven’s” will be the annual streaks of Lyrid meteors. Most of the activity will be in the early morning hours, radiating from an area near the bright star, Vega and best seen in dark skies.

First recorded sightings of the Lyrids meteor shower date back to 687 BCE, noted by astronomers in China, although the comet that is the source of the meteors wasn’t discovered until 1861. Early methods of sky observation, developed by Chinese astronomers, lead to astonishing findings. Some of the biggest astronomical discoveries include the first recorded siting of Halley’s Comet, the earliest known observations of sunspots, and a first known record of a supernova.

On July 5, 1054, Chinese astronomers noted the sudden brilliant appearance of an object four times brighter than Venus. They called it a “guest star,” and saw it in daylight for 23 days.

Known for meticulous records, the astronomers also chronicled the date the supernova faded from view. April 22, 1056, marked the last observation of the surprise object located between the horns of the constellation, Taurus the Bull. The ancient massive stellar explosion is now known as, “The Crab Nebula.”

Are you as fascinated by the night sky as we are?

Join us for SkyWatch: Carnegie Science Center’s monthly opportunity to catch a glimpse of the stars with professional telescopes. Get a great view of the Pittsburgh skyline as you stargaze with other space enthusiasts. Plus, watch a feature show at the Buhl Planetarium and participate in fun, astronomy-themed activities.