see http://cantonbecker.com/retrograde for details…
Nicely timed as the peak happens during the new moon. The Lyrids meteor shower is active from the 16th Apr to 25th Apr with fewer activity either side of the peak time (Saturday night.)
*** A great chance to see a fairly dramatic eclipse from the USA ***
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_May_20,_2012
An annular eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are exactly in line, but the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun. Hence the Sun appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, surrounding the outline of the Moon.
The May 2012 annular phase will be visible from the Chinese coast, the south of Japan, and the western part of the United States and Canada. Guangzhou, Tokyo and Albuquerque will be on the central path.
Its maximum will occur in the North Pacific, south of the Aleutian islands for 5 min and 46.3 s, and finish in the western United States.
It will be the first central eclipse of the 21st century in the continental USA, and also the first annular eclipse there since the solar eclipse of May 10, 1994 which was also the previous eclipse of this series Solar Saros 128.
Venus will transit across the disk of the Sun. This rare event will be visible from many locations around the world. You’ll need glasses/filters suitable for a solar eclipse to keep from burning your eyes out.
The transit will be best viewed from the Pacific Ocean. North America will be able to see the start of the transit (June 5), while South Asia, the Middle East, and most of Europe will catch the end of it. (June 6)
See http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/transit/venus/city12-1.html to find your local transit times.
Cross your fingers for good weather since the next Venus Transit won’t be until December 2117.