Hobby star researchers can look forward to increased shooting star activity in the nights around April 22nd, because the Lyrids meteor shower will reach its maximum this Friday. Theoretically, up to 18 shooting stars are visible in the night sky at this time of year, but according to astronomer Erwin Filimon there are usually significantly fewer in Upper Austria: “The frequency of the Lyrids is very low. If you are lucky, you might discover 2-3 shooting stars per hour.”
Most are scheduled to show up at 9 p.m. today. This is not ideal for observing, as it is not yet completely dark at this time. The weather also speaks against good visibility this weekend, according to ZAMG a cloudy night sky is to be expected with the waning moon. The natural spectacle is also dependent on the radiant, the point from which meteor showers seem to emanate. It will be particularly close to the zenith this coming weekend in Asia, but local astronomers are unlucky in this regard too.
Popular Perseids
At certain times of the year, shooting stars accumulate in the night sky. “There are many meteor showers throughout the year, but the Lyrids are among the least spectacular,” explains Filimon. Far more popular are the Perseids: They peak longer than other streams, being most active on August 12th. So if you’re hoping for lots of shooting stars on a mild summer night in August, you’ll probably be just as disappointed this year – because the Perseids are also under a bad star. “Every four years, during the Perseids, the moon goes through a full moon phase. That’s the case again this year,” says Filimon, who won’t be watching the Lyrids over the weekend.
According to the chairman of the Salzkammergut Astronomical Working Group, the most impressive are the Geminids in December. Although these are not as attractive as the Perseids because of the cold, they still offer a natural spectacle. Such is not to be expected from the Lyrids at the weekend.
Source: Nachrichten
