OT - Lyrid meteor shower

[Spacehead]

Sorry about the short notice, i just checked my email this morning. Overcast & rainy the next few days here

MORNING METEORS: Earth is entering a stream of debris from Comet Thatcher, the source of the annual Lyrid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on Wednesday, April 22nd, with a display of 10 to 20 meteors per hour over the northern hemisphere. Occasionally, Earth passes through a dense region of the comet's tail and rates surge five- to ten-fold. In 1982, for instance, observers were surprised by an outburst of 90 Lyrids per hour. Because Thatcher's tail has never been mapped in detail, the outbursts are unpredictable and could happen again at any time. The best time to look, no matter where you live, is during the dark hours before dawn on Wednesday morning April 22nd. Visit http://spaceweather.com for full coverage.


LUNAR OCCULTATION OF VENUS: Even if the Lyrids fizzle, there is still something wonderful to see on Wednesday morning, April 22nd. The crescent Moon and Venus are going to have a close encounter of jaw-dropping beauty. Look low and to the east just before sunrise. Observers in western parts of North America will see a lunar occultation: Venus will disappear behind the Moon's limb just after 5 am PDT and reappear again an hour or so later. Details may be found in this Science@NASA story: http://science.nasa.gov/headli...y2009/17apr_lyrids.htm

 

[petrusbroder]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll watch for the Lyrid ...

 

[bryanW1995]

I'd like to think that I'll get up tomorrow morning early to see it, but, um, I don't do mornings very well. My all time best morning screwup was sleeping through glacier bay...what can I say, they shouldn't have gotten there at 9:30 am!!

 

[lizardth]

Cool! FMC and I saw one yesterday morning on the way to work! It was really bright and broke into 2 pieces.

 

[rabrittain]

Damn!!

It was cloudy here near Tacoma, WA.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Seen Venus and the moon this morning too! That was amazing, and I thought we already had an event either this year or late last year.

That meteor we seen was the first one I had ever witnessed. That was absolutely amazing. Gonna have to try to find more events like these and go out to my parents where there is little light pollution.

 

[Spacehead]

Originally posted by: Spacehead
Overcast & rainy the next few days here

When i woke up this morning it was actually snowing

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
That meteor we seen was the first one I had ever witnessed. That was absolutely amazing. Gonna have to try to find more events like these and go out to my parents where there is little light pollution.

Really?
Mark you calendar for Aug 12. The Perseids are usually a good show & the best one during the summer.
Quadrantids (January) & Leonids(November) are some of the better ones every year too.

I don't remember when it was (2002?) but i went out for the Leonids & froze my butt off, but it was well worth it. Several meteors per second for 2-3 hours & some were so bright that they actually cast a shadow!

Look up a list of annual showers... they happen the same time every year.

edit-
Look here