If you weren’t able to catch January’s Quadrantid meteor shower then you’ll definitely want to be sure to catch the showstopping Lyrids coming up in just a few weeks. Known for its rare outbursts of up to 100 meteors per hour, the Lyrid meteor shower is always a favorite among night sky enthusiasts for its unpredictability. This year, the shower is expected to be as bright and beautiful as ever. Keep scrolling for all of the information you could need about the upcoming meteor shower and how to view it in Idaho this year.
April's show of shooting stars, the Lyrid meteor shower, is expected to occur this year from April 16 to April 25. Known among star gazers for its unpredictable bursts of shooting meteors, this is definitely one to check out.
Associated with a long-period comet known as Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, the Lyrid meteor shower is actually the oldest recorded meteor shower that's still visible today. It was first recorded in 687 BCE.
The peak viewing time for the Lyrid's 2020 shower is expected to occur in the hours just before dawn on April 22. With no moon to disturb visibility, you should be able to enjoy a clear view of the bright meteors shooting across the sky during this time.
If you get lucky, you may even witness some of the shower's notable "surges." Whereas the typical rate for this meteor shower is around 10 to 15 meteors per hour, it's possible to view up to 100 meteors an hour during one of these bursts.
In order to properly view any meteor shower, you must seek out a particularly dark area that provides an unobstructed view of the night sky. Luckily, there are PLENTY of those in Idaho. In fact, the country's first Dark Sky Reserve is located right here in the Gem State.
We always recommend trying to catch the meteor shower at its peak, but you should still be able to view some of the shower's flying meteors even outside of the peak. Simply keep away from city lights and try to time it so that you avoid when the moon is brightest.
As the second notable meteor shower of the year, you'll want to be sure to catch a view of the Lyrids as they come into view. You can never predict when this shower will put on a show, but that's what makes viewing it so exciting!
