π-Puppid meteor shower 2021

The π-Puppid meteor shower will be active from 15 April to 28 April, producing its peak rate of meteors around 23 April.

Over this period, there will be a chance of seeing π-Puppid meteors whenever the shower’s radiant point – in the constellation Puppis – is above the horizon, with the number of visible meteors increasing the higher the radiant point is in the sky.

The radiant point culminates (is highest in the sky) before nightfall – at around 18:00 IST – and so the shower is likely produce its best displays soon after dusk, when the radiant point is still as high as possible.

At this time, the Earth’s rotation turns India to face optimally towards the direction of the incoming meteors, maximising the number that rain vertically downwards, producing short trails close to the radiant point. At other times, there will be fewer meteors burning up over India, and they will tend to enter the atmosphere at an oblique angle, producing long-lived meteors that may traverse a wide area of the sky before completely burning up.

The shower is expected to reach peak activity at around 23:00 IST on 23 April 2021, and so the best displays might be seen before the radiant sets on 23 April and after dusk on 23 April.

The Moon, in Leo, will be only 3 days away from full phase at the shower’s peak, presenting significant interference throughout the night.