[AZ-Observing] Lyrid Meteor Shower

Subject: The Lyrid Meteor Shower
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 12:17:14 -0700

Space Weather News for April 20, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

Earth is about to pass through the dusty tail of Comet Thatcher, and 
this will cause the annual Lyrid meteor shower. Forecasters expect 
the shower to peak on April 22nd, producing about 10 meteors per 
hour--modest, but pretty.  The best time to look is during the hours 
before sunrise on Saturday morning.  Go to a dark site away from city 
lights, if possible.

The Moon will also encounter the comet's tail on April 22nd, which 
raises an interesting possibility: Amateur astronomers may be able to 
spot flashes of light on the Moon when comet debris hits the lunar 
surface and explodes. All that's required is a backyard telescope and 
lots of patience.

Visit Spaceweather.com for details, sky maps and observing tips.

Note: This is a Northern Hemisphere shower.  South of the equator, 
observers will see very few Lyrids.  Southerners are, however, in an 
excellent position to observe Lyrid impacts on the Moon.  The Moon 
rises high in southern skies on April 22nd, in plain view of backyard 
telescopes.

-- 
Jeff Hopkins
HPO SOFT
Counting Photons
http://www.hposoft.com/Astro/astro.html
Hopkins Phoenix Observatory
7812 West Clayton Drive
Phoenix, Arizona 85033-2439 U.S.A.
www.hposoft.com
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