Achi news desk-
Lyrid meteor shower
The annual Lyrid meteor shower is expected to peak Sunday night into Monday morning. It is a moderate meteor shower that can produce up to 18 meteors per hour at its peak. The radiant point of the shower is near the constellation Lyra, of which the bright star Vega is a part. The constellation is currently rising over the northeast through the night and then is positioned high over the eastern horizon overnight.
Meteors are typically easier to see when the radiant point is higher in the night sky. That means the best viewing time is midnight through the hours before dawn. The usual night sky viewing tips apply. Get away from the city lights, give your eyes time to adjust to the dark and dress for the weather.
One factor working against ideal viewing this year is the moon. The moon is expected to be almost 90 percent illuminated throughout the weekend, making it very bright in the night sky.
Things to see in the night sky on Sunday night.
Best nights to see
Cloud cover will increase from the west on Friday night, meaning viewing will likely be hindered in New Brunswick and western Nova Scotia. More favorable viewing conditions are expected in eastern Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Clouds increasing from the west Friday evening for the Maritimes.
Saturday night is ruined for most of the Mariners. Cloudy conditions are expected with areas of rain and showers. The exception may be the northernmost and westernmost areas of New Brunswick, which may see some cloud clearing overnight.
Mostly cloudy weather with rain or showers is expected on Saturday night. It will then clear overnight for northern and western areas of New Brunswick.
Much of the Maritimes should have ideal viewing conditions from Sunday into Monday morning — that’s the expected peak of the shower. The exceptions appear to be the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia and parts of northern New Brunswick where some cloudier conditions may be present.
A few clouds are expected, but it should be possible to watch the night sky decently on Sunday night. Cloudier conditions are possible for northern New Brunswick and Atlantic coast Nova Scotia.
If you see the Lyrids, or capture one in a photo, I’d love to see and hear about it. Send me a report at [email protected]
