Thursday, April 22, 2010

happy earth day!


Earth Day 2010 Kicks Off With Lyrid Meteor Shower

(CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - Earth Day 2010 kicked-off with a spectacular Lyrid meteor shower in all of its glory in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday.

According to NASA , early risers who were lucky enough to witness the spring meteor shower as it reached its peak on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, got to see about 15 meteors per hour between 2 and 5 a.m. on April 22.

"The best way to observe the show is to recline comfortably, facing anywhere from north to east and gazing nearly overhead," an astronomer for the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, Anthony Cook told NationalGeographic.com . "The best location is a region far from urban light pollution with a fairly open horizon."

While this annual event has appeared in the Northern Hemisphere every April for approximately 27 centuries, this year it made Earth Day extra special, reports Space.com .

The Lyrid meteor show began on April 16 and will continue until April 25, but the greatest number of shooting stars was forecast for Thursday when the first quarter moon had set to give greater visibility.

Continue article here.


what are you doing for earth day? we're riding the tandem all day today--car free diet!

are you a tree hugger? do you use reusable grocery (or not grocery) bags? (found on oh hello friend)? what are your earth day resolutions? (found on good measure)

1 comment:

s.calder said...

Sooo cool! I didn't know about the meteor shower! Enjoy your tandem bicycle ride- it sounds wonderful!