Thursday, January 15, 2009

Lyrids Meteor Shower Next Up in 2009; Moon and Venus Occultation

The calendar for meteor showers quiets down for the first couple of months of the year, now that the Quadrantids have finished. Next up are the Lyrids, but this meteor shower does not make an appearance until the third week in April.

Look for these showers to peak during the early morning hours of April 22, before sunrise. The Lyrids will not be hampered too much by moonlight. The moon will appear as a waning crescent. The shower should produce about 10 to 20 meteors per hour under dark sky conditions. If you live out in the city, then you probably should look for a dark spot away from city lights.

If you live out west then you will get a double astronomical treat. During the morning hours of the 22nd the planet Venus will pass behind the moon. This is what is know as an occultation. Folks on the east coast will miss out because it will occur after sunrise and Venus will no longer be visible.

If you have binoculars or a small telescope, they will provide pretty views. But since Venus is so bright, the backdrop of the crescent moon should still provide a spectacular site for the naked eye.

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