India, April 18 -- Skywatchers hoping to catch a glimpse of the first meteor shower in over three months may have their plans interrupted, as cloudy skies and stormy weather threaten visibility across large swaths of the northern and eastern U.S. Still, not all hope is lost-parts of the West, Southwest, and Midwest are expected to have perfect conditions for stargazing, per Accuweather.

NASA Meteoroid Environments Office lead Bill Cooke explains that Lyrids, like other meteor showers, consist of debris particles trailing behind comets. A.E. Thatcher observed the shower in 1861 under the name Comet Thatcher.

"Thatcher left a debris trail that the Earth runs into the third week in April of every year, and that causes the shower when these...