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Grant · #1 (**Link to Post**) 20-Apr-2006, 21:21

Earth is about to skirt the dusty tail of Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1), and this will cause the annual Lyrid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on April 22nd, producing about 10 meteors per hour--modest, but pretty. The best time to look is during the hours before dawn on Saturday morning. Go to a dark site away from city lights, if possible.

The Moon will also encounter the comet's tail on April 22nd, which raises an interesting possibility: Amateur astronomers may be able to see flashes of light on the Moon when comet debris hits the lunar surface and explodes. All that's required is a backyard telescope and lots of patience.

Want to try? Train your telescope on the dark side of the Moon, which rises around 3 a.m. on Saturday: sky map.

Lyrids will be raining down on the northern third of the visible disk. In the eyepiece, watch for fleeting, point-like flashes. Better yet, let a video camera do the watching for you. Brian Cudnik, who coordinates amateur observations of lunar impacts for the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, explains how.

Source: Spaceweather.com

beteljuice · #2 (**Link to Post**) 20-Apr-2006, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamworth Weather

.... Train your telescope on the dark side of the Moon, ......

Damn clever trick that !

.

Grant · #3 (**Link to Post**) 20-Apr-2006, 22:07

LOL It sure is, but in this case they do mean the half you can see from the earth

tomweatherfreak · #4 (**Link to Post**) 21-Apr-2006, 10:15

so will you be able to see this metor strike from just going outside and looking at the moon?

Grant · #5 (**Link to Post**) 21-Apr-2006, 10:19

Its a meteor shower tom, you will ba belt to see them with the naked eye, but you may need a small scope or perhaps binoculars to see them impact the part of the moon that is still in the earths shadow (the dark bit of the cresent)

tomweatherfreak · #6 (**Link to Post**) 21-Apr-2006, 10:35

i have a good pair of amy binoculars that i could use

tomweatherfreak · #7 (**Link to Post**) 21-Apr-2006, 19:01

did i say metor strike stupid me lol

Grant · #8 (**Link to Post**) 21-Apr-2006, 19:34

If the cloud cover clears later, we may be able to see something

madmarkie · #9 (**Link to Post**) 21-Apr-2006, 20:18

well im hope to say up for it

tomweatherfreak · #10 (**Link to Post**) 21-Apr-2006, 21:01

the forecast tonight is partly cloudy, don't think you are going to see much tonight

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