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(meteorobs) Meteor Activity Outlook for April 14-20
The moon is rapidly becoming full and will spoil observing for both
evening and morning hours this week. On Friday morning April 14 only one
hour of observing time will be available between moon set and the onset
of morning twilight. On Saturday morning this decreases to less than one
half hour. This timing is unfortunate as the first major shower of the
season, the Lyrids, will become active this week. On Friday morning the
Lyrid radiant will be located at 17:28 +34, which is actually in central
Hercules some 20 degrees west of the bright star Vega. The area of the
sky rises near 9pm local daylight time but is best placed nearly
overhead at dawn. Any Lyrid activity will be sparse this week with
perhaps one shower member being visible per night in the beginning of
the period and one shower member per hour toward the end. The Lyrid
meteors will appear slow near the radiant and medium-fast far from it.
Other than random sporadic activity the only hope of seeing any activity
from a particular source or radiant this week would be from the apex
radiant. On Friday morning the center of this source of meteors will be
located at 19:46 -21 which places it directly on the Sagittarius-
Capricornus border, low in the southeast at dawn. Meteors from the apex
appear slow near the radiant but quite fast if seen far from it and high
in the sky.
Recent observations have indicated that sporadic rates have rebounded
and are still producing above average rates. This week with lunar
interference I would expect evening watchers to only see 2-3 sporadic
meteors per hour while the morning skies should produce 4-5 meteors per
hour for those with transparent skies.
Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford
AMS Visual Program Coordinator
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