Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    7,523 violators of residency, labor, and border security laws deported in a week    Video contradicts Israeli army account of deadly March 23 strike on Gaza paramedics    Saudi Arabia spends over $241 million to implement de-mining projects in 3 countries    Italy's Meloni government approves controversial security decree expanding police protections and penalties    Egypt submits new Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal: Report    'Everything is possible' — Ronaldo focused on titles, not 1,000-goal milestone after Riyadh Derby win    Saudi, US military leaders discuss enhanced defense cooperation in Riyadh    King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launches program with Indiana University    Ronaldo brace powers Al Nassr past Al Hilal in Riyadh derby thriller    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Foreign investors are allowed to engage in real estate business outside Makkah and Madinah Commercial speculation should not be the purpose of real estate transaction    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



City, provinces to get treat of meteor showers: Pagasa
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 02 - 04 - 2010

A meteor shower in late April will give stargazers a treat as the Lyrids meteor shower makes its appearance from April 22 to predawn of April 23.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the shower's peak may feature an average of 10 to 15 meteors per hour.
“The shower's peak this year will be in progress on the late night of April 22 to predawn of April 23 with an average of 10-15 meteors per hour under clear sky condition,” Pagasa head Prisco Nilo said.
Nilo noted the Lyrids meteor shower has been observed for more than 2,600 years.
Citing Chinese records, he said “stars fell like rain” during the meteor shower of 687 BC.
But in recent times, he noted the Lyrids have generally been weak, and have a brief maximum that lasts for less than a day.
Meanwhile, Nilo said Venus and Mercury will be found close to each other with a minimum separation of about 3 degrees above the western horizon on Saturday at around 6:30 P.M.
“They will be shining at magnitude -3.9 and -0.8, respectively. The planets will be located among the background stars of the constellation Aries, the Ram,” he said.
At around 7 P.M. of April 4, Mars will be found directly at the zenith and will remain visible in the evening sky throughout the month.
It will be found among the background stars of the constellation Cancer, the Crab. Its magnitude decreases from the beginning to the end of the month, ranging from +0.2 to +0.6 with a phase of 92 to 90 percent and a diameter from 9.23 to 7.33 arcseconds.
During the first week of the month at around 7:30 p.m., Saturn will be shining at magnitude +0.6 and will be located at about 34 degrees from the eastern horizon.
It will be found among the background stars of the constellation Virgo, the Virgin. By using a modest size telescope, it will reveal a diameter of 19.45 arc of a second and Saturnian satellites can sometimes be seen as tiny yellowish beads of light.
At around 5 A.M. of April 14, Uranus, Jupiter, and Neptune will be at 9, 15 and 32 degrees above the east southeastern horizon and will be glowing at magnitude +8.0, -2.1 and +5.9, respectively.
Jupiter and Neptune will lie among the background stars of the constellation Aquarius, the Water Bearer while Neptune will be found among the stars of the constellation Pisces, the Fish.
“A modest size telescope will be needed to observe Neptune and the Blue-Green planet, Uranus,” Nilo said.
According to Spaceweather.com, the meteor showers stems from Earth passing through the dusty tail of Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1). – GMANews.TV
“The best time to look, no matter where you live, is during the dark hours before dawn. Forecasters expect 10 to 20 meteors per hour visible from dark-sky sites,” it said.
It also said Lyrids have nothing to do with Vega, as the true source of the shower is Comet Thatcher.
“Every year in April, Earth plows through Thatcher's drawn-out dusty tail. Flakes of comet dust, most no bigger than grains of sand, strike Earth's atmosphere traveling 49 km/s (110,000 mph) and disintegrate as streaks of light--meteors!” it said.
“Experienced meteor watchers suggest the following viewing strategy: Dress warmly. Bring a reclining chair, or spread a thick blanket over a flat spot of ground. Lie down and look up somewhat toward the east. Meteors can appear in any part of the sky, although their trails will
tend to point back toward the radiant--i.e., toward Vega,” it added.
Social networking site Facebook even offers a page on the meteor shower.


Clic here to read the story from its source.