Lyrid Meteor Shower and Planetary Eclipse set for Wednesday

Photos

The Orionid Meteors have Arrived -

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uploaded by Jared Aicher - Storm Chaser

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  uploaded by Jared Aicher - Storm Chaser | add comment

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  uploaded by Jared Aicher - Storm Chaser | add comment

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  uploaded by Jared Aicher - Storm Chaser | add comment

Every once in a while Mother Nature provides the citizens of planet Earth with a spectacle that no one should miss.  Sometimes it’s an incredible lightning display with thundering echoes, and at other times the moon passes silently in front of the sun, casting its dark shadow upon the Earth.  This Wednesday, April 22, Mother Nature will provide us with another one of her productions, with a very special encore.

In order to see this beautiful sight, however, you will have to set your alarm clock for the dark hours just before sunrise.  During this time, the Earth will be passing through the densest region of Comet Thatcher’s tail, causing the annual Lyrid Meteor Shower.  As Earth plows through the debris field, comet dust, most no larger than a grain of sand, will strike the upper atmosphere at roughly 110,000 mph and disintegrate as fast streaks of light. 

The Lyrid meteor shower usually only produces between 10-20 meteors per hour, not a big showing compared to the annual Perseid Meteor Shower that is known to produce up to 80 meteors per hour.  Observers in 1982, however, reported over 90 Lyrid meteors per hour as the Earth passed through a denser region of the comet’s tail.  This is outburst is very unpredictable and could happen during any of the Lyrid meteor showers.

This year, even if the Lyrid Meteor Shower is a dud, you will still have an incredible view of the planet Venus parked directly next to the crescent moon, and if you live in western North America, it’s the encore you won’t want to miss.  At around 6am Mountain Time/5am Pacific Time, the planet Venus will slip behind the edge of the moon, eclipsing the planet.  Venus will remain out of sight for roughly 60-90 minutes as the moon passes in front the planet.

So set your alarm, wake the kids, grab some hot coco and head outside on Wednesday morning.  Look to the eastern sky a couple hours before sunrise and enjoy the show.

Jared Aicher is a photographer and documentary film producer specializing in the changing climate and severe weather.  Watch for his severe weather coverage from Tornado Alley beginning the week of April 20, 2009 right here on NowPublic.  Please visit www.newwindstudios.com for more information.