Sky watchers are in for a treat in April with the return of a meteor shower and a full “Pink” moon.
The Lyrid meteor shower will peak on the night of Thursday, April 21 into the early hours of Friday, April 22. In peak years, the Lyrids can produce up to 100 per hour though experts aren’t expecting that level this year. Instead, you can look for between 10-15 Lyrids per hour but some could be impressive.
The Lyrids are also capable of producing trains created by ionized gas that is visible for a few seconds after the meteor passes, according to earthsky.org.
The “shooting stars” are typically best seen between midnight and dawn.
Lyrid meteors radiate from near the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra the Harp but will be visible across the sky. They originate from the Comet Thatcher, first discovered in April 1861.
Pink Moon
In addition to the Lyrids, April will bring a full Pink Moon on April 16. Don’t let the name fool you, however – the moon won’t actually take on a rosy color. Instead, the name comes from the wild ground phlox, a pink flower that typically blooms in April.
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the Pink Moon is also called the Full Sprouting Grass Moon and the Full Fish Moon.