March Winds Bring April Meteor Shower
April 2004 :
Note: This article may contain outdated information
This article was published in the April 2004 issue of The Skyscraper and likely contains some information that was pertinent only for that month. It is being provided here for historical reference only.
Like me, you must be longing for some clear skies and moderate temperatures to enjoy a decent evening of stargazing. This past winter has been tough on all of us who look towards the heavens. When is the last time you remember observing even a modest display of shooting stars? Well, as long as March winds don't bring their usual rain showers, we have an opportunity to observe some members of the April Lyrids meteor shower on the night of the 21st to early morning of the 22nd. Mother Nature, are you listening?
I haven't written about the April Lyrids for a few years now because the shower had been in decline, and the observing conditions were always poor to fair at best. Well, this year the shower occurs just a couple of days after New Moon. The waxing crescent will set around 10:00 pm and will therefore not hinder observing even the faintest of the Lyrid members.
Besides the favorable Moon phase, some recent observations indicate increased activity during the last few years. I'd settle for just about any meteor rate as long it was above the random background of sporadics! Following are the specifics for the April Lyrids.
As mentioned above, the Lyrids peak on the night of April 21- 22. I would recommend to begin observing soon after the crescent Moon sets. The constellation Lyra, from where the meteors will appear to radiate, will be well up in the eastern sky. The swift and bright Lyrid meteors disintegrate after hitting our atmosphere at a moderate speed of 29.8 miles per second. They often produce luminous trains of dust that can be observed for several seconds.
Because moonlight will not interfere, perhaps 15 to 20 meteors per hour can be seen by an observer well away from city lights. Since the Lyrids are a narrow stream of particles, the nights before and after the peak night will display perhaps less than half of the peak night numbers.
So, weather conditions permitting, enjoy the annual shooting star display known as the April Lyrids. March winds are supposed to bring April showers. Let's hope they are of the meteoritic kind!!
A note about our Saturday public nights at Seagrave Memorial Observatory in North Scituate. Actually, the lack thereof this winter. First it was all the snow and ice. Now (early March) it's been the mud. I trust by the time you read this column we will be back to our regular weekly schedule. You can always surf our website (www.theskyscrapers.org) for up-to-date information.
Keep your eyes to the skies!
