Lyrids peaking tonight/early tomorrow a.m.

[FBM]

The Lyrid meteor shower is not one of the strongest of the annual meteor showers, but it can be enjoyable to those meteor observers thirsting for something after over three and a half months of weak meteor activity.

The Lyrids generally begin on April 16 and end on April 26, with maximum generally occurring during the night of April 21/22. At maximum, hourly rates can reach about 10 meteors per hour. The Lyrids are particularly interesting for two reason. First, observations have been identified back to at least 2600 years, which is longer than any other meteor shower. Second, the meteor shower occasionally experiences an outburst of about 100 meteors per hour and the reason is basically unknown.

There are other, weaker meteor showers going on around the same time as the Lyrids. The Lyrids move rather fast. When you see a meteor, mentally trace it backwards. If you end up at the constellation Lyra then you have probably seen a Lyrid meteor! If you are not sure where Lyra is in the sky, the following charts will help you find it from both the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere:

(images in link)

http://meteorshowersonline.com/lyrids.html

If I don't fall asleep, I'm going to try to get at least one post-worthy pic.

[pErvinalia]

Now that I'm in the city, I won't have a good view of the skies. I am relying on you to give me some good pictures, FBM!

I approve of the new avatar, too.

[FBM]

You might be wiser to rely on the avatar for entertainment, given my poor track record with these celestial events.

[pErvinalia]

Hehe... Yeah, I want to see some streaking. Not necessarily across the sky...

[FBM]

Hehe... Yeah, I want to see some streaking. Not necessarily across the sky...

I'll take what I can get, I guess. I went out earlier and found a ENE-facing spot with a low-ish horizon and hopefully not full of city lights. Forecast says skies will be clear, but the satellite image on the very same page shows clouds. Maybe they will clear up in a few hours' time...

[Hermit]

Oh, meteor showers can be spectacular. I remember seeing three waves within a few seconds - dozens of meteors in each one - burning up above Lucerne one night while wandering about in the Alps a few kilometres south from the city. I was near Mount Pilatus and at an altitude of about 2000 metres, so the clearness of the sky made the display particularly impressive. To cap the night off, I saw a bunch of phosphorescent fungi growing around a withered tree stump about an hour later.

[FBM]

If I see something like that, I'll try to switch to video mode...

[pErvinalia]

Oh, meteor showers can be spectacular. I remember seeing three waves within a few seconds - dozens of meteors in each one - burning up above Lucerne one night while wandering about in the Alps a few kilometres south from the city. I was near Mount Pilatus and at an altitude of about 2000 metres, so the clearness of the sky made the display particularly impressive. To cap the night off, I saw a bunch of phosphorescent fungi growing around a withered tree stump about an hour later.

That was a movie, dude. Avatar.

[Hermit]

If I see something like that, I'll try to switch to video mode...

You'll have to be bloody quick. The show lasted for only five seconds or so. Better still, set the camera up on a tripod, point it in a likely direction and start recording while hoping for the best. A spare battery and storage chip will be handy too.

[Hermit]

Oh, meteor showers can be spectacular. I remember seeing three waves within a few seconds - dozens of meteors in each one - burning up above Lucerne one night while wandering about in the Alps a few kilometres south from the city. I was near Mount Pilatus and at an altitude of about 2000 metres, so the clearness of the sky made the display particularly impressive. To cap the night off, I saw a bunch of phosphorescent fungi growing around a withered tree stump about an hour later.

That was a movie, dude. Avatar.

You saw one in a film? Nothing beats CAG. Lucky you.

[FBM]

If I see something like that, I'll try to switch to video mode...

You'll have to be bloody quick. The show lasted for only five seconds or so. Better still, set the camera up on a tripod, point it in a likely direction and start recording while hoping for the best. A spare battery and storage chip will be handy too.

Have all the above ready to go.

[Faithfree]

Good luck FBM! Being near the middle of the city I don't think it's worth the bother of me getting up at 3 am to probably see nothing.

[FBM]

Thanks, Ff. Nearly 1 and clouds are still banked in pretty solid up there. The radar says they should be pretty much gone in another hour or so, so I'm trying to stay awake. Trying.