A fairly bright moon will interfere with this fairly average shower, so try to catch it in the very early morning after the moon has set. The Lyrids can be counted on for about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861. The shower runs annually from April 16-25. It peaks on the night of the night of the 22nd and morning of the 23rd. These meteors can sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
This is also the first of three „supermoons” for 2021, with the moon making a closer-than-usual pass by earth. (It will be closest during the next new moon… when you can’t see it.)
In the northern hemisphere, this full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Pink Moon because it marked the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the first spring flowers. This moon has also been known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Growing Moon, and the Egg Moon. Many coastal tribes called it the Fish Moon because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.
In the southern hemisphere this might be the Full Harvest Moon. The harvest of all crops usually gets into full swing in April, along with hunting to stock up the meat cellars. This could easily be called The Full Hunters Moon, or it might be named for a specific fruit that’s prominent in the region, or an animal that’s plentiful and commonly sought for meat.
The second quarter moon will block out some of the faintest meteors this year. But if you are patient, you should still should be able to catch quite a few good ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight.
The Eta Aquarids is an above average shower, capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. Most of the activity is seen in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet Halley, which has known and observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from April 19 to May 28. It peaks this year on the night of May 6 and the morning of the May 7. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
Did you miss seeing Mercury in March? Didn’t want to wake up early to see it in the morning sky? Here’s your second chance. Mercury will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.