What can be seen in April through a telescope: the Lyrid meteor shower and binary stars

From April 14 to April 30, the Lyrid meteor shower is activated, the peak of which will be on April 21-22, 2021.

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According to the forecasts of the International Meteor Station, up to 18 meteors per hour are expected.The Lyrids are one of the oldest observed and annually active meteor showers, formed by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher.

The Lyrids are a medium-strength meteor shower, usually observed over three nights near the peak.on the night of April 21, 22 and 23.In 2021, the conditions for observing meteors are not entirely favorable.

The Moon is close to the Full Moon (which will occur on April 27) and is going awaybelow the horizon after 4 a.m., when the radiant of the Lyrids is high above the southern horizon.Under such conditions, with clear skies, it is possible to observe bright Lyrid meteors at dawn. 

What can be observed in April through a telescope:

  • double stars: ζ B. Bears, α Hounds, ι Cancer;
  • variable stars: δ Cepheus, β Lyrae;
  • open star clusters: Nursery (Cancer);
  • globular star clusters: M13 (Hercules), M3 (Hounds), M5 (Snake);
  • galaxies: M81 and M82 (Ursa Major), M51 and M94 (Hounds Dogs), M87 and M104 (Virgo).

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