AstroEvent of the Week: 04.20.09: A Morning of Moons and Meteors!

Venus & the Moon Earlier this Year…(note the Ashen Light!) Photo by Author.
There are two reasons to set your alarm this week; one is the annual Lyrid meteor shower, and the second is the lunar/planetary action in the dawn sky. First, the shower. The Lyrids break the lull we’ve had in meteor showers [...]

Astro Event of the Week; November 3rd-9th: A Taurid Outburst?

Looking due south, about 2AM. (Credit: Stellarium).
   Most years, the Taurid meteor shower doesn’t merit a second look; this minor shower radiating from the constellation Taurus the bull usually generates a maximum rate of less than five meteors per hour.