Lyrid Meteor Shower Steals Spotlight from Pink Moon as Sky Watching Season Continues

Prepare yourself for another stunning celestial display as the Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak this week, just days after the total solar eclipse wowed sky-gazers around the world. Although April’s full moon – also known as the pink moon – will steal some of the Lyrids’ thunder due to its brightness, experts have shared tips on how best to view both celestial events. The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to be most active from Sunday night through until early Monday morning and while it’s unlikely that this year’s display will match previous years – when as many as 100 shooting stars per hour were spotted – the American Meteor Society predicts up to 18 sightings each hour. However, because of the brightness of the full moon, faint meteors are less likely to be visible for people watching from Southern Hemisphere countries such as New Zealand and Australia due to their positions relative to its celestial rising point this year. For those hoping to catch a glimpse in Northern Hemispheres including Europe, Africa or Asia on Sunday into Monday (3 April – early morning hours of 4th April BST), NASA suggests that observers go outside around 10pm and give their eyes enough time for dark adaption which lasts around fifteen minutes before hoping to catch sightings in any part of the sky. According to Ashley King, a postdoctoral researcher at London’s Natural History Museum: “The best place would be somewhere nice and dark with not too many lights about.” The Lyrid meteor shower’s radiant point – where shooting stars appear to originate from in the night sky – will also remain below horizon level for observers located south of latitude 35 degrees (the position running roughly east-west through Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia) so these countries are less likely to witness high rates. King adds: “You never quite know exactly what you’re going get; shooting stars could potentially travel all across the sky,” with an array of hues possible – but generally pale blues or white is expected for this year’s display due to dust particles from comet Thatcher burning up in Earth’s atmosphere. The pink moon, which will be visible until Tuesday 3rd April, should be relatively unexciting – apart perhaps, its appearance. Despite being called the ‘pink moon’, it won’t necessarily appear this colour and is instead named after a type of wildflower that blooms in early springtime known as Phlox subulata which was once prolific throughout North America at pink bud stage. Instead it’s brighter hue due to its annual appearance during April – when the days begin getting longer again following winter – giving moon gazers plenty more chances to see it this year. In contrast, red tints can sometimes be seen around full moons nearer the horizon because of light passing through Earth’s atmosphere although, in King’s view: “This isn’t going to be anything that looks especially spectacular”. So how should people observe this moon? Hayne suggests using binoculars or even just your naked eye as it will appear too bright for telescopes. In an email statement he says the pink full moon – and all others besides – offer us “a great opportunity” not only to connect with our planet’s neighbour in space, but also learn more about ourselves: “Looking up at a full Moon is a great reminder of the vastness of Space & that we are intimately connected to it,” he says. For those wanting to catch another celestial event this year, there will be several meteor showers still set for display – according to NASA and the American Meteor Society. Here’s when you can expect them:
– Eta Aquariids (May 4th – May 5th)
– Southern delta Aquariids (July 29th–30th)
– Alpha Capricornids (July 30th – July 31st)
– Perseids (August 11th – August 12th)
– Draconids (October 7th- October8th )
– Orionids (October 20th– 21st)
– Northern Taurids (November 4th – November5th )
– Leonids (November 17th – November 18th)
– Geminids (December 13th – December 14th )
– Ursids (December 21st– 22nd). The most highly anticipated eclipse event of the year is set to take place on October 26th, with a total annular solar eclipse in Southern America expected as its radiant point remains lower this time than previously thought due to moon positioning. In contrast, there will be another partial lunar eclipse – also called blood or harvest Moon – occurring from Europe through Africa, North America and South America between September 17th-18th when Earth moves in alignment with the full moon causing its shadow to obscure a portion of the lunar surface for those watching.