TSTW 4/17/08
Thursday, April 17
The Moon crosses the celestial equator heading south at 3:48 a.m.
Giovanni Battista Riccioli (1598-1671), Italian astronomer, was born 410 years ago.
The Sun transits the meridian at 1:00 p.m. CDT (noon CST).
Friday, April 18
Librid meteors may be seen around this date.
The 11.6-magnitude asteroid 31 Euphrosyne may pass in front of the 13.2-magnitude star 2UCAC 25773064 in Virgo for up to 14.9 seconds around 1:37 a.m. For more info, visit http://asteroidoccultation.com/asteroid.htm.
NCRAL 2008, Port Washington, Wisconsin
Saturday, April 19
NCRAL 2008, Port Washington, Wisconsin
Lacrosse 4 (rocket body) will move from NNW to SSE from about 9:14 to 9:21 p.m. It reaches its highest point in the sky (89° altitude, magnitude 2.3) around 9:19 p.m., near Leo Minor, during astronomical twilight.
Spica is near the Moon this evening.
April Ursid meteors may be seen around this date.
Sunday, April 20
Full Moon, 5:25 a.m.; rises 7:30 p.m. Saturday; transits 12:45 a.m.; sets 5:51 a.m.; = -17°
The Iridium 40 satellite will flare to -6 magnitude around 9:05 p.m. at azimuth 92° (E) and altitude 58°, in Canes Venatici, during astronomical twilight.
Monday, April 21
Lyrid Meteor Shower (nominal peak: 11 p.m. to midnight)
Tuesday, April 22
Lyrid Meteor Shower (14 meteors per hour, or less; radiant transits at 5:01 a.m.)
Wednesday, April 23
Antares is near the Moon this morning before dawn.
Max Planck (1858-1947), German physicist, was born 150 years ago.
The first significant meteor shower this year under tolerable temperatures occurs Monday night and Tuesday morning, April 21/22, though the 96% lit waning gibbous moon will render all but the brightest meteors completely invisible. The Lyrid meteor shower is one of the oldest known meteor showers, having been observed for at least 2,600 years. The meteor particles are derived from Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1, P = 416 years), and trace back to a radiant area one-third of the way from Lyra to the Keystone of Hercules.
This year, the Lyrids are expected to peak around 11 p.m. or midnight local time Monday evening, though more meteors are likely to be seen after 1:00 a.m. when the radiant is higher. For best results, begin observing Monday evening around 10:00 p.m., continuing until Tuesday morning around 4:30 a.m. when morning twilight begins to interfere even more than the moonlight does.
Normally, one should face generally towards the radiant, but due to the bright moon this year, it may be best to face the portion of the sky directly opposite the waning gibbous moon. Holding a black umbrella behind your lawn chair or positioning yourself in the shadow of a building will increase your chances of seeing a half-dozen or so meteors per hour in spite of the moonlight.
