In exactly one month, the annual Lyrid meteor shower will begin. This 10-day phenomenon is scheduled to last from April 16 – 26, lighting up the dark with surges of up to 100 meteors per hour. We’ll enjoy excellent visibility here in Arizona, so start thinking of where you’ll go to watch!
Since 687 BC, the Lyrid meteor shower has commanded the night sky for 10 days each April.
Flickr/pchee It’s expected to peak overnight on the 22nd this year, and Arizona will enjoy excellent visibility.
We can thank the constellation Lyra for this spectacular celestial event, as the shower appears to originate from within its boundaries.
Wikipedia Look for the activity to begin nearly overhead, as the star group resides there in early summer.
Alpha Lyrae, also known as Vega, is Lyra’s brightest star.
Flickr/Giuseppe Donatiello It’s actually the fifth-brightest star in the entire night sky, so missing the shower is next to impossible if you know where to look.
As with most meteor showers, a comet is responsible for the Lyrids. Its name is C/1861 G1, or Thatcher, which orbits every 415 years.
Wikipedia
Luckily, there will be no full moon to obstruct our view of the meteors.
Flickr/Darren Price This is great news, as moonlight and cloud cover are two of the biggest determining factors in how visible a shower will be.
For best results, head to a remote location with the least amount of light pollution possible.
Flickr/sugarbear96 Even if you didn’t see any meteors, the Milky Way band just might make an appearance!
Arizona is actually home to a whopping 10 International Dark Sky parks, so you shouldn’t have to drive too far for a good view.
Flickr/Trevor Bexon Enjoy the show!
Click here to learn more about International Dark Sky parks in Arizona.
Flickr/pchee
It’s expected to peak overnight on the 22nd this year, and Arizona will enjoy excellent visibility.
Wikipedia
Look for the activity to begin nearly overhead, as the star group resides there in early summer.
Flickr/Giuseppe Donatiello
It’s actually the fifth-brightest star in the entire night sky, so missing the shower is next to impossible if you know where to look.
Flickr/Darren Price
This is great news, as moonlight and cloud cover are two of the biggest determining factors in how visible a shower will be.
Flickr/sugarbear96
Even if you didn’t see any meteors, the Milky Way band just might make an appearance!
Flickr/Trevor Bexon
Enjoy the show!
Have you ever seen the Lyrid meteor shower? If so, will you be watching this year? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
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