Posted on Apr 23, 2020
APOD: 2020 April 23 - Lyrid Meteor Streak
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Good morning, Rallypoint. Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) is titled "Lyrid Meteor Streak." The Lyrids refer to a meteor shower that occurs annually April 16th-26th. The radiant of the meteor shower is located in the constellation Lyra, near its brightest star, Vega. The source of the meteor shower are particles of dust shed by the long-period Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. The Lyrids have been observed and reported since 687 BC; no other modern shower has been recorded as far back in time.
Last night (April 22-23) was the peak for this year (it was cloudy in NC, so no joy here). Counts typically range from 5 to 20 meteors per hour. Today's APOD was captured two nights ago in the skies over Brown County, Indiana. The bright star just to the left of the meteor trail is Deneb (in the constellation Cygus). "Lyrid fireballs" cast shadows for a split second and leave behind smokey debris trails that last minutes. This might have been one of them.
Last night (April 22-23) was the peak for this year (it was cloudy in NC, so no joy here). Counts typically range from 5 to 20 meteors per hour. Today's APOD was captured two nights ago in the skies over Brown County, Indiana. The bright star just to the left of the meteor trail is Deneb (in the constellation Cygus). "Lyrid fireballs" cast shadows for a split second and leave behind smokey debris trails that last minutes. This might have been one of them.
APOD: 2020 April 23 - Lyrid Meteor Streak
Posted from apod.nasa.gov
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 9
Posted 6 y ago
Somehow every time I try to see a predicted meteor, comet or other phemenon, it is either cloudy or raining...
Good morning Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
Good morning Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
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Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
6 y
I know, Lt Col Charlie Brown. If the weather clears, there may be something to see tonight.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
6 y
That's usually my luck as well but did see this one when flying a night mission in mid 80s.
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Posted 6 y ago
What a busy part of space, Maj William W. 'Bill' Price...The more we see the more we want more... I can't wait for the James Web telescope to be operational! Have a great evening, Bill!
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Posted 6 y ago
Any hope of NASA getting back into space any time soon?
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Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
6 y
SrA Ronald Moore An excellent question. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will be the first to fly on the Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifting off on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A in Florida (scheduled May 27, 2020). The next Mars Rover, Perseverance, will be sent on its way in July 2020. The first launch of the new NASA heavy rocket (Space Launch System, or SLS) is now scheduled for April 2021.
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