"Shooting stars" from the Lyrid meteor shower as seen from the International Space Station. (Image credit: NASA/JSC/D. Pettit) The night sky is set to deliver one of spring's most anticipated celestial events as the Lyrid meteor shower returns this week. One of the oldest recorded meteor showers, the Lyrids peak Wednesday (April 22), offering stargazers a rare treat: a chance to witness "shooting stars" — and possibly bright "fireballs" — in dark, moonless skies. The Lyrids officially run from April 14 through April 30, but their activity will peak in intensity during daylight on April 22 in North America and Europe, according to the American Meteor Society , when around 10 to 20 meteors per hour are expected. That creates two opportunities to catch the Lyrids: the predawn and post-sunset hours of April 22. The most favorable conditions are expected in the early morning hours, particularly around 5 a.m., when the radiant point — located in the constellation Lyra — rises higher in the sky.…