April 16, 2019 will give us all the opportunity to admire the planets of the solar system, as well as enjoy the meteor show.
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Lyrid meteor shower
On April 16, the activity of the Lyrid meteor shower begins. The radiant should be sought in the direction of the constellation Lyra. This is an ancient meteor shower, which began to be documented from 687 BC. er This is the April regular show, covering April 16-25 with a peak on the 22nd-23rd numbers.
The reason for the creation of the stream was the activity of comet Thatcher (C / 1861 G1). The average flow rate reaches 10 meteors per hour, but at the peak you can see up to 20 meteors. The best time to watch is before dawn. Also try to be as far as possible from the city lights. Lyrids in brightness reach the 2nd value, and traces in the sky linger for a few minutes.
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Mercury and Venus
At 7:30 pm, grab a telescope or binoculars with you to observe the convergence of the planets. The main focus is on Mercury and Venus. You are lucky, because these two worlds of the Solar system are considered the most accessible for review (after the Sun and the Moon). Venus is easier to find, as it is brighter. Mercury will be held at 4 degrees and 16 minutes from Venus.
Remember that when observing at twilight, one cannot do without color filters (red and dark red) to increase the contrast of the planets.
