Lyrids: a Holy Week shower of swift, vibrant meteors

Stargazers can expect a treat of sorts this Holy Week with the Lyrids meteor shower – an annual phenomenon caused by the Earth’s path through the powdery tail of Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1) – on April 21 and 22, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. In its astronomical diary for April, PAGASA said that while the showering streak of meteors will not be numerous, they will be swift and vibrant. "The shower’s peak this year will be in progress (on the night of ) April 21 to predawn of April 22, when the waning gibbous Moon shines brightly and will drown out fainter meteors during the predawn viewing. Although not numerous, Lyrids are bright and fast meteors," acting PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said. Fireballs falling like rain PAGASA noted that the Lyrids meteor shower has been observed for more than 2,600 years. It cited Chinese records indicating "stars fell like rain" during the meteor shower of 687 B.C. "However, in recent times, the Lyrids have generally been weak. The shower typically generates up to 20 meteors per hour under optimal conditions with a brief maximum that lasts for less than a day," PAGASA said. “These ‘Lyrid fireballs’ cast shadows for a split second and leave behind smoky debris trails that linger for minutes," notes the SpaceWeather.Com website. “Occasionally, the shower intensifies. Most years in April there are no more than 5 to 20 meteors per hour during the shower's peak. But sometimes, when Earth glides through an unusually dense clump of comet debris, the rate increases. Sky watchers in 1982, for instance, counted 90 Lyrids per hour," the said website noted further. Saturn in Virgo Meanwhile, PAGASA said Saturn will be visible in the evening sky throughout the month. It will be located among the background stars of the constellation Virgo, the Virgin and will be shining at magnitude +0.4. Mercury will be found low in the western horizon during the first week of the month and will be out of view on the succeeding days. It will return to view in the eastern horizon from April 13 and onward. Venus will be shining brilliantly at magnitude -3.8 and will remain as a morning star throughout the month. It will lie among the background stars of the constellation Pisces, the Fish. At 5 a.m. of April 29, an array of morning planets will line up in the eastern horizon. "Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Neptune will be found standing at 4, 5, 10, 14, 20 and 43 degrees above the eastern horizon, respectively," PAGASA said. But for proper viewing of Uranus and Neptune, skygazers will be needing a star map and a pair of binoculars or a modest-sized telescope, it said. PAGASA said the planets will lie among the background stars of the constellation Pisces, the Fish, except for Neptune which will be found at the constellation of Aquarius, the Water-Bearer.—With Aya Yuson/JV, GMA News