STARGAZERS can see this spring’s first full moon this weekend before the Lyrids meteor shower peaks
The Pink Moon will illuminate the sky from early Friday to Monday morning, according to NASA.
The moon reached its peak fullness on Saturday afternoon, but is set to remain highly visible throughout the rest of the weekend.
Those who want to see the display should “find an open area and watch as the Moon rises just above the horizon, at which point it will appear its biggest and take on a golden hue,” according to the Old Farmers’ Almanac.
April’s full moon could have a profound effect on stargazers this weekend, according to a spiritual advisor.
The celestial event will cause a powerful change in the lives of all 12 of the star signs, expert Meghan Rose said.
Rose noted that the moon “actually marks the beginning of the Taurus-Scorpio eclipse that’s taking place over the next year and a half, so this is actually going to be really powerful.”
The Pink Moon is just one of the two celestial displays to look forward to in the coming days.
The Lyrids meteor shower and a full pink moon will both grace night skies above the US this week.
The Lyrid meteor shower is set to peak on April 22 when about 18 “shooting stars” will appear per hour.
Read our pink moon and Lyrids meteor shower live blog for the latest news and updates…
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When to see the pink moon setting?
According to NJ.com, the morning moon will be setting in the west-southwestern sky around 6.20am Saturday, 6.47am Sunday, and 7.18am Monday if you want to view it.
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When will the moon rise on Sunday?
The moon will rise in the east-southeastern sky at 8.57pm on Easter Sunday, which will be late this year due to the full moon cycle, and will be 99 percent full, according to NJ.com.
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How far does Comet Thatcher orbit?
According to EarthSky.org, Comet Thatcher’s path brings it near Earth’s orbit, then orbits at a distance of 110 astronomical units.
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Lyrid showers in history
The Lyrid meteor shower has the distinction of being one of the earliest meteor showers ever seen, EarthSky.org reports.
This shower has been recorded for over 2,700 years. In the year 687 BCE, the ancient Chinese appear to have witnessed the Lyrid meteors pouring like rain.
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When will Comet Thatcher be back?
Per EarthSky.com, Comet Thatcher will be back in the year 2278; however, the Lyrid shower – the comet’s trail – will arrive every April.
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What is Comet Thatcher? continued
This comet was discovered by Alfred E. Thatcher of New York City. At the moment, the comet was pointing toward the north polar area of our sky, near the constellation Draco, EarthSky.org reports.
A 4.5-inch-diameter refracting telescope with a magnification of 30 times was used by Alfred Thatcher.
At magnitude 7.5, the comet shone brightly. However, when the comet approached both the sun and the Earth over the next few weeks, it brightened significantly.
It became apparent to the naked eye and stayed so until early June 1861, when it vanished into the evening darkness.
Observers in the Southern Hemisphere discovered it in late July and tracked it for five weeks until it became too weak to view from anyplace on Earth.
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What is Comet Thatcher?
Comet Thatcher is the Lyrids’ parent comet.
The comet was discovered in 1861 and takes 417 years to complete one round around the sun, according to EarthSky.org.
Its course takes it close to Earth’s orbit, then it veers off into space.
It travels 110 astronomical units in length. That’s 110 times the distance between us and the sun.
Comet Thatcher will be 107 AU distant in 2022, moving at a snail’s speed.
It’s in the direction of the constellation Andromeda in our sky. The comet will reach its furthest point from the sun in 45 years and begin its return journey.
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How many meteors do Lyrid showers produce?
Space.com says that an average Lyrid shower produces 15-20 meteors per hour.
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Best time to watch Lyrid meteor shower
The Lyrid meteor shower will begin appearing in the night sky this weekend, with the peak predicted on April 21-22, according to experts.
Per EarthSky.org, “Your best bet for watching the Lyrids in 2022 is to watch in the hour before your local midnight before the moon rises or gets very high in the sky.”
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Total lunar eclipse on May 16
You might wish to mark your calendars for the upcoming lunar eclipse on May 16, when the so-called flower moon will be at its fullest phase, according to TimeandDate.com.
As all three celestial bodies line up in a straight line, the Earth’s shadow will briefly prevent the sun’s light from shining on the moon’s surface, resulting in a complete lunar eclipse.
The moon will have a rusty, reddish-orange hue during the eclipse, which is why many astronomy professionals refer to it as a blood moon.
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Why is it called the pink moon?
According to Space.com, pink refers to the plant moss pink, also known as creeping phlox, moss phlox, or mountain phlox, which grows in the eastern United States.
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Close-up user images of pink moon
“In all [its] glory,” said one Twitter user along with an image of the pink moon.
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When is the next full moon?
The next full moon – the Flower Moon – will take place on May 16, according to Farmer’s Almanac.
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What are Bolides?
Bolides are brighter and larger than fireballs, according to National Geographic, and they frequently explode in the atmosphere.
On the surface of the Earth, these explosions may be heard and even felt.
Bolides are fireballs that emit a sonic boom when they speed through the atmosphere, according to some scientists.
Known as superbolides, certain bolides are so brilliant and produce such a big explosion that they become natural hazards and threatening to people and towns.
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What are Fireballs?
Larger meteors, ranging in size from a basketball to a compact automobile, are known as fireballs, per National Geographic.
The most common sort of meteor is probably fireballs. Hundreds of sightings are reported each year by members of groups like the American Meteor Society.
In the United States, more than 1,500 fireballs had been documented as of July 2014.
Some were only visible in a local area, while others were observed by stargazers in many states.
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What are Earthgrazers?
Earthgrazers are meteors with lengthy, multicolored tails that sweep close to the horizon, according to National Geographic.
Some earthgrazers re-enter space after bouncing off Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Other earthgrazers disintegrate in the atmosphere, streaking through the sky like falling stars.
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Different types of meteors
Meteors are classified by size, brightness, and proximity to Earth.
According to National Geographic, there are various different types of meteors:
- Earthgrazers
- Fireballs
- Bolides
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What is a meteor?
A meteor is a streak of light in the sky created by a meteoroid smashing into the atmosphere of the Earth, according to National Geographic.
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What does the pink moon symbolize?
The Pink Moon represents flowering in all aspects of one’s life and encourages you to grow in all areas of your life, according to TheRecentTimes.com.
It’s a representation of progress. It also refers to the rebirth of anything in one’s life. What it alludes to is a new beginning.
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Does the pink moon have other names?
The pink moon has other names, according to Nasa, such as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon.
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How long will the moon be full?
Per Nasa, the moon will appear full for three days, from Friday to Monday morning.
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Pink moon in full effect in NYC
The 98 percent-full April moon rose in the eastern sky around 6.29pm in the New York City area.
According to TimeAndDate.com, the actual full moon will rise at 7.42pm on Saturday, April 16.
Full Pink moon rises behind the Empire State Building in Manhattan of New York CityCredit: Getty Images – Getty -
Twitter users post pink moon photos
Via Twitter, many users have begun to post images of what the pink moon looks like in their area.
One such user, along with images, wrote: “Beautiful moon today.”
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How long can the pink moon be seen?
The pink moon will be viewable throughout the whole weekend, from early Friday morning to early Monday morning, according to Nasa.
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When will the pink moon reach its peak?
The full moon can be viewed this afternoon at approximately 2.55pm EST, according to Nasa.
This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
