Catch The June Bootids Meteor Shower Above Colorado This Month

One of humankind’s greatest fascinations has always been (and may always be) space, which few of us will ever get to experience firsthand. While not everyone is lucky enough (or, quite frankly, qualified enough) to hop aboard SpaceX, we can get a glimpse into life outside this planet, thanks to meteor showers, supermoons, and other planetary events. If you are ready for another one of these spectacles, be sure to look up to the Colorado skies in June for the highly anticipated, yet highly unpredictable Bootids Meteor Shower:

Slated to take place June 22nd through July 2nd (2020), the Bootids Meteor Shower is an annual occurrence that is best seen when the shower’s radiant point is above the horizon.

Flickr/Desolation Hiker

Named for the constellation Bootes, the Bootids Meteor Shower is hard to catch (most years have a zenith hourly rate of only 1 or 2) but well worth the effort, as past bursts have produced hundreds of meteors an hour.

Flickr/Heath Cajandig

What causes this annual phenomenon? The Bootids Meteor Shower occurs when the earth crosses the Comet Pons-Winnecke orbit, which creates unpredictable spurts that are considerably slower than most.

Flickr/Diana Robinson

Unlike other meteor showers, the Bootids is said to occur earlier in the night, with most of the action happening around dusk.

Flickr/Jeff Sullivan

While you can stare at the sky every night for the Bootids Meteor Shower, the peak is said to be June 27th, so be on the lookout for more action!

Flickr/A T

To learn even more about the Bootids Meteor Shower and other celestial events, please visit the American Meteor Society’s website.

Flickr/M-Bates

Do you have a Colorado attraction or special event that you would like us to check out? Nominate it here! For even more things to do in Colorado this summer, you will want to Roll The Windows Down And Take A Drive Down The Dinosaur Diamond In Colorado.