Clear skies mean a fine view of the Lyrid meteor shower this week, if you can bear the chilly east wind. Includes a video forecast with Jo.
Nearly all of the UK has seen clear blue skies and sunshine to start the week and that is set to continue. There is high pressure over Scandinavia, steadying the weather down but bringing a chilly east wind.
For stargazers, the guaranteed clear view is good news although standing out in the garden having a look may test you in that wind once the warm sunshine has gone.
Only the far SW of England and the Channel Islands will struggle tonight with cloud and even the odd shower which has been lurking over northern France on Monday. Tuesday looks clearer but still chilly.
This week the Lyrid meteor shower will be visible, Venus is still very bright in the western sky and once again the Starlink satellites will be traversing the night sky in their bizarre train of lights.
The peak of the Lyrid’s is the night of the 21st-22nd but having a look either side of this is still worthwhile. We do expect clear skies over the next few days.
“The Lyrid meteor shower is associated with long-period Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. It is the oldest recorded meteor shower still visible today, and was first recorded in 687 BCE. While the Lyrid meteors will be visible all across the sky, following their path backwards, they will appear to originate from the constellation of Lyra, the lyre.” Royal Museums Greenwich
Bright fast meteors, some with trains and occasional fireballs- the brighter impressive ones that make you say “OOooooh”. The rate for this shower is 10-20 meteors per hour.
That’s not at the level of the Perseids (August) or Geminids (December) with over 100 per hour and with fast meteors you have to keep a good look out.
The moon, a waning crescent will be a new moon by April 23rd 2020 so that will help with viewing and overall dark skies. As usual if you are in a town or city the streetlights are likely to inhibit your view.
The Starlink trains should be visible tonight as well, it’s all going on as we Stay at Home. Before ten pm they will be making their progress across the skies and visible from the UK.
For any viewing, even just out of the window, the east wind will still make it feel cold but with low air pollution to start the week and hardly any cloud, it will be worth having a look.
