Stargazers will witness two overlapping meteor showers in April, providing a unique opportunity to see multiple shooting stars in the night sky. The Lyrids meteor shower begins on April 17 and peaks on April 22, while the Eta Aquarids meteor shower starts on April 20 and runs until May 21.
During this overlap, stargazers can expect to see up to 50 meteors per hour streaking across the sky during peak activity. The Lyrids are bits of rock and ice left behind by Comet Thatcher, which orbits the sun every 415 years, while the Eta Aquarids are remnants of Halley’s Comet.
Astronomers recommend using binoculars or a telescope to spot these shooting stars, as well as other celestial objects. The Messier marathon, a 50-year tradition, takes place between March and early April, where skywatchers attempt to spot all 110 celestial objects catalogued by Charles Messier in one evening.
Additionally, New Yorkers can participate in free weekly telescope viewing events hosted by the Amateur Astronomers Association. These events offer easy naked-eye stargazing opportunities, with notable appearances of the Pleiades star cluster, Jupiter, Mars, and other stars in the constellation Gemini.
NASA space ambassador Kat Troche suggests that the waning moon will not significantly interfere with the meteor showers, making it a great time to observe these celestial events. Astrophysicist Jackie Faherty advises stargazers to “kick back and look up” to make the most of this opportunity.
Source: https://gothamist.com/news/aprils-glittery-night-sky-features-2-meteor-showers