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(Photo Wikimedia)
We can all enjoy the wonders of spring because the April night sky is rich in objects to see!
As we pass the middle of April, get ready for two interesting sites in our Arizona skies.
The first of the main meteorite rains will occur in the next few days.
This is the annual Lyrid meteor shower, which will be better seen before the full moon of the month, on the morning of the 19th.
The Lyrid meteor shower is one of the oldest showers of space debris observed.
First observed from 687 BC. AD, this shower is one of the oldest from a comet long period.
The famous comet C / 1861 G1 Thatcher is at the origin of the Lyrids. This comet has an orbital period of about 415 years.
The Lyrids are active from April 16th to 25th, with maximum activity on the morning of the 23rd.
The best advice you can look into this shower would be to try to get a few hours of observation from the mornings of April 17 and 18, when the near-full moon will not interfere so much.
To do it properly, look to the northeast sky after midnight and look for the bright star, Vega.
Vega is the brightest star in the constellation of the Lyra harp. Vega is a bright blue star located 27 light-years away!
The radiation or location of the meteor shower is a few degrees to the right of Vega.
Even in the moonlight and in a clear sky, you will see at least some bright meteors.
Here is a basic table of sights for Lyrids.
On the other hand, there is something that everyone can see and appreciate.
I'm talking about the next big moon of 2019. It's the full pink moon!
With Easter and Passover here, the Pink Moon is a celebration of the season and the flowers we see around us. The desert is awash with beautiful colors of winter rains.
For those of you who need specific hours, the moon will be full at 7:12 pm Mountain Time on the 19th.
At that time, the moon will be low in the southwest of the constellation Virgo, some 227,000 miles from Earth.
A better view of the Pink Moon will take place on Thursday night, when the moon will rise at 18:26. Mountain Time, 95 degrees azimuth (just right of the East is true).
It will be a spectacular show and in which those with cameras, smart phones and binoculars, will really appreciate.
If you just want to enjoy the beauty of the event, you will be rewarded in the same way!
Happy Easter and Passover to all!
To print your own monthly star chart, click here.
To see the satellites / dates / times of passage, click here.
Listen to Dr. Sky on KTAR News 92.3 FM every Saturday morning at 3 am
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