2 meteor showers visible this month

MANILA, Philippines — Astronomy enthusiasts and sky watchers are in for a treat as two overlapping meteor shower events light up the Philippine sky this month. 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the Lyrids is a meteor shower observable from April 16 to 25, with an expected peak of activity on April 22. 

The weather bureau said the meteor shower can be observed when Hercules, the meteor shower’s radiant rises at around 9:17 p.m. and remains active until around 5:14 a.m. of the following day. The radiant is highest in the sky at around 4 a.m.

Pagasa said the Lyrids meteor shower would produce the best display shortly before dawn, with up to 18 observable meteors per hour. 

“The presence of the Waning Gibbous Moon in Sagittarius presents a significant interference with the meteor shower observation throughout the night,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA said the Puppid meteor shower would be active from April 15 to 28, with an expected peak of activity on April 24.

The meteor shower can be observed after sunset until the shower’s radiant sinks toward the horizon around 10:09 p.m.

PAGASA said the presence of the last quarter moon in Capricornus during the peak activity would produce an insignificant effect on the meteor shower observation.

The state astronomical services bureau noted that meteor showers are observable through the naked eye. Telescopes and binoculars are not needed. 

“Maximize the viewing experience by choosing a dark observation site away from the city lights under clear and moonless sky conditions,” PAGASA advised the public.