Slim chance of a shower show

Concluding his look ahead to the prospects for skywatchers in April, Ken Kennedy highlights potential sightings of meteorites.

The Dundee Astronomical Society stalwart points out that the annual April Lyrid meteor shower – particles of dust shed by a comet – will be reaching its peak on Monday April 22, at around noon.

He explains: “The best times to see any of these meteors will be on the evenings of the 21st to the 23rd, although sky conditions are not particularly favourable with a moon just beyond first quarter and high in the sky.

“The rate of meteors expected near to maximum is only about 15 per hour under good conditions, so it is unlikely to be a spectacular meteor shower. However, good displays of the April Lyrids were recorded in 1803, 1922 and 1982, so we may be surprised this year.”

Turning to the likely lunar displays to be seen next month, Mr Kennedy says: “Around first quarter the moon is still very high in the April evening sky and it is well worth having a look at with binoculars or a telescope.

“The changing position of the terminator, the line demarking lunar sunrise, reveals changing shadows as craters emerge into the new lunar day. With a telescope there are endless details to examine on the moon’s surface such as craters, flat maria areas, mountains and even winding cracks and valleys with larger telescopes.

“Unfortunately, however, the inevitability of shorter nights is likely to limit meaningful views of the planets, it would seem.”

Ken declares: “Mercury may just be seen low towards the west-north-west shortly after sunset for the first few days of April but after that will be lost in the brightening sky.

“Venus will be too close to the sun to be seen during April, while Mars rises only shortly before the sun and will not be visible.

“Jupiter can still be seen towards the west during April evenings, setting about an hour and a half after the sun. Saturn is in the same area of sky as Mars and will not be visible during the month although it passes within 0.5° of Mars on the 11th of April.”

He finishes: “The moon is at last quarter on the second, new on the eighth, at first quarter on the 15th and full on April 23.”