Seeing meteors pepper the sky from the direction of Lyra is a regular April event. Unfortunately, moonlight significantly hinders observations of this year's Lyrid meteor shower. The Lyrids peak near midnight EDT the night of April 21/22, when a waning gibbous Moon stands in Libra. To get a decent view, watch before dawn April 22 from a spot where trees or buildings block the Moon. A better opportunity to see meteors arises in April's final days. Although the Eta Aquarid shower doesn't peak until May's first week, its annual run begins late this month. The meteors come from debris left behind by Comet 1P/Halley during its passages through the inner solar system. The International Meteor Organization reports an apparent 12-year activity cycle for the Eta Aquarids. This could boost rates from 2008 to 2010. So, despite the radiant's low altitude from the Northern Hemisphere, watch for the Eta Aquarids' typically long streaks.
No comments:
Post a Comment