“Lyrid Meteor Shower to Peak on Earth Day - National Geographic” plus 2 more |
- Lyrid Meteor Shower to Peak on Earth Day - National Geographic
- Meteor Shower in Wisconsin - Associated Content
- Lyrid meteor shower 2010 - Examiner
| Lyrid Meteor Shower to Peak on Earth Day - National Geographic Posted: 19 Apr 2010 12:17 PM PDT For the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, nature will be setting off some fireworks, with the peak of the annual Lyrid meteor shower arriving on April 22. While the Lyrids might not be cosmic celebrities like August's showy Perseids, the April meteor shower has been known to offer up a surprise or two for sky-watchers (Related: "Comet 'Shower' Killed Ice Age Mammals?") "Although the Lyrids have been observed since 687 B.C., the behavior of the shower from year to year is unpredictable," said Anthony Cook, an astronomer for the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. "An average Lyrid shower produces between 10 and 20 meteors per hour, but occasionally these rates increase to 90 per hour," Cook said. "In 1803 the shower produced about a thousand meteors per hour"—just enough to qualify as a meteor storm. How to See the Lyrid Meteors This year, Lyrid meteor activity began picking up on April 16, and the shower will run until April 25. The Earth Day peak will actually come in the early morning hours of April 22, after the first quarter moon has sunk below the horizon, leaving dark skies. (Test your lunar smarts with our moon quiz.) "The best time to look will be between the time of moonset [between 1 and 2 a.m., local time] and dawn, and the best way to observe the show is to recline comfortably, facing anywhere from north to east and gazing nearly overhead," Cook said. "The best location is a region far from urban light pollution with a fairly open horizon." Lyrids to Be a Sprinkle or a Storm? The Lyrids' "shooting stars" will appear to radiate from around the brilliant star Vega in the shower's namesake constellation Lyra. Vega now shines nearly overhead in the predawn hours for stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere skies, the Lyrids will produce just a sprinkling of meteors. As with other annual meteor showers, the Lyrids are thought to be caused by debris left over from a passing comet. When Earth passes through the trail of particles—most no bigger than grains of sand—the tiny rocks burn up in our atmosphere, creating bright streaks. (Related: "'Major,' Green Meteor Lights Midwest Night Sky," with video.) The Lyrids have been linked to the periodic comet Thatcher, which has an orbit that's skewed nearly perpendicular to the plane of the solar system, the tabletop-like plane along which the planets orbit. The dearth of planets along the comet's path means that its debris trail stays relatively stable, which is most likely why the Lyrids have been a reliable meteor shower for centuries. But sometimes Earth passes through a particularly dense clump of cometary leftovers, and that's when meteor rates skyrocket. So are sky-watchers this year in for a sprinkle or a storm? "The only way to know what the Lyrids have in store for you," Cook said, "is to go outside and observe them." Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Meteor Shower in Wisconsin - Associated Content Posted: 19 Apr 2010 10:01 AM PDT I Know Where I'll Be Looking at 10 p.m. This EveningMeteors are pieces of space debris that could be left by a comment. The light given off when a meteor enters the earths atmosphere is caused by burning dust and debris. On Wednesday night in the American Mid-West we all got a quite a show in the evening sky.April 14th, 2010 there were reports of a fireball in the sky. This fireball was actually a series of meteor showers. On my way home from work at ten-o'clock I thought it was just lightening until I pulled into the driveway and looked closer. No damage was done but it was surely a sight to see. Many were quick to jump on the UFO bandwagon but the National Weather Service has confirmed that it was a harmless meteor shower which are not uncommon. Meteor showers happen about once a year but not all of them will give off a light show. The light was visible throughout the Midwest, reports from Wisconsin to Missouri were made. Although some say this was a single meteor that lit up the sky for a brief moment at approximately 10:10pm I can personally attest to this misleading information. I saw at least six flashes which suggest a shower of meteors which was confirmed by the National Weather Service. Last nights shower was part of the Gamma Virginis shower which began on April 4th and expects to continue until April 21st. Tonight (Thursday, April 15th) is supposed to be the peak of the meteor activity. The name of the shower Gamma Virginis comes from a star in the constellation Virgo. Any meteor from western Virgo could be the cause for this shower. The shower would best seen after midnight when facing the direction of Virgo. These meteors are known as Virginids. My Father called me today and had seen on the news that at 10:05pm it should be visible in Stevens Point where I currently reside. I'll be sure to step outside on my porch around that time and tune in for natures light show myself. Last night I wasn't quite sure if it was lightening or my eyes playing tricks on me. Tonight I'll be aware of the natural phenomenon taking place in my own front yard. Information found on www.meteorobs.org and www.csmonitor.com Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Lyrid meteor shower 2010 - Examiner Posted: 19 Apr 2010 05:51 AM PDT The Lyrid meteor shower is the first significant shower of 2010. Dating as far back as March 687 BC, the Lyrids make an annual show usually beginning on April 16th. This northern hemisphere shower occurs when the Earth passes through debris from the Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1), discovered by A.E. Thatcher on April 4, 1861. The Comet Thatcher is expected to pass Earth again in 2267. This year, the Lyrids will peak on April 22nd with an expected show of 10 - 12 meteors per hour according to experts. The radiant of this shower is between the constellations Lyra and Hercules. Typically, the Lyrid meteor shower presents a modest show of 10-20 meteors per hour. Occasionally, the Earth will pass through a dense clump of debris, resulting in an increased rate of meteors. In 1982, some observers counted as many as 90 meteors per hour. In 1945, a Japanese observer counted 112 meteors in 67 minutes, most of the Lyrids. Optimal viewing time or the Lyrids will occur early morning on April 22nd. The moon will set between 1 and 2 AM, leaving a dark sky until dawn. During this time, find a dark place as far away from city lights as possible. Look to the east, giving your eyes at least 10-15 minutes to adjust to the night sky. Lie back and scan the sky for meteors with a trail that points back toward the sparkling blue-white star Vega. Join in the discussion about the Lyrids on Twitter using #meteors and #lyrids. Please feel free to leave your comments below. Subscribe to this column using the "Subscribe" button at the top. Click here to 'friend' this Examiner on Facebook, or click here to follow her on Twitter. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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