[ad_1]
All is not lost after the supermoon failed to save Lois Lane a few weeks ago. With less light pollution, the night skies are clearing for a great show this week.
The Lyrids meteor shower will make its annual appearance this Wednesday, April 22.
Image: Brian R. Obee
This Wednesday, take your eyes off Netflix and witness a meteor shower. With less light pollution, the skies are clearing for a show.
Comet Thatcher’s last visit to the inner solar system was in 1861. Hundreds of years later, we are seeing a shower of tiny pieces left behind by the comet. Meteorites are expected to pass at speeds of up to 177,000 km per hour.
“Everyone has a window, so it is always possible to enjoy the night sky” says astronomer and author Lisa Harvey-Smith. “If you live in the city, it can be a bit more complicated, but there are many planets at the moment.
“One of the best activities is just looking at the phases of the moon and drawing them, just seeing how long it takes to go from the new moon to the full moon.”
The Lyrids meteor shower will arrive on Wednesday, April 22, and is expected to host up to 18 meteors per hour. The best viewing will be around midnight if you are in Australia. There is also the possibility of seeing slower and longer meteors called ground scrapers that rise horizontally across the sky. Some have trails that glow even after the meteorite has disappeared.
“Compared to other meteor showers, Lyrids tend to produce bright meteors and occasionally a fireball.” Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Society writes.
After this, in May we can expect to see the Eta Aruirids meteor shower, possibly the most famous of all. The earth will pass through a debris field left behind by Halley’s Comet, first seen in 1066 and considered an omen. This will be visible around 5th of May.
Grab your telescope (imaginary telescopes work, too), step away from artificial light, and enjoy a show of natural wonders like satellites, lunar cycles, meteor showers, and possible extraterrestrial visits.
[ad_2]
