The April Meteors

Abstract

THE interesting Lyrid meteor shower passed unobserved last year owing to the generally unsatisfactory state of the weather that prevailed at the time of its expected appearance. In the event of better atmospheric conditions obtaining at the present epoch, the Lyrids are likely to be strongly in evidence, as the circumstances that regulate the intensity of these meteor apparitions will be exceptionally favourable. According to calculations by the writer, the Lyrid shower will fall in 1906 on the night April 19, and will be visible at least in part from both sides of the Atlantic, though the main bulk of the display will descend over the American continent. The earlier maxima on April 19 fall due about 10h. 30m. and 14h. 30m. G.M.T.; the second and stronger phase of the shower will culminate at 19h. 30m., and will be followed by two other maxima, one of which occurs on April 19 23h. and the other on April 20 2h. The last and final outburst of meteoric activity will, of course, completely elude observations over the American continent. Of the minor showers associated with the period, the most prominent will be visible on the nights of April 23 and 25; on the former there is a well defined maximum at 13h., while on April 25 two or three maxima will take effect between 9h. and 12h. 30m.