Oklahoma has amazing nighttime skies for star gazing and there's a celestial event in April you won't want to miss. The Lyrids Meteor Shower is one of the oldest recorded meteor showers and one of the most spectacular, as fireballs light up the sky. Keep scrolling for more details and optimal viewing dates here in the Sooner State.
The Lyrids are an April meteor shower that is active between April 16 and 25 every year. It's also known as "April's Shooting Stars" and it's a magnificent event to witness.
Here in Oklahoma, the peak will be between April 21-22. Hopefully, we will have clear skies on those nights and have a great view.
These star trails were photographed during a Lyrid meteor shower. Aren't they just mesmerizing? They are known for uncommon surges that can sometimes bring the rate up to 100 per hour.
Check out this meteor from the Lyrids crossing the Milky Way. You don't need any special equipment or a lot of skills to view this meteor shower — they are visible to the naked eye.
It's recommended to find the darkest skies possible and let your eyes adjust for 10-15 minutes before viewing. The comet responsible for the Lyrids is Thatcher, and according to historical Chinese texts, it has been observed for more than 2,500 years.
The brightest star in the constellation is called Vega and will be among the brightest stars in the night sky. This will be a helpful point of reference when looking for the meteor shower in April. Have you seen the Lyrids Meteor Shower? If so, we would love to hear about your experience!
You would never know by the look of modern-day Ames, Oklahoma, that a meteor 1,000 feet in diameter hit the area thousands of years ago. The meteor created a crater over 8 miles wide, but it is not visible today because over 9,000 ft. of sediment covers up the hole. The meteor crater, also known as an astrobleme, was discovered during oil exploration in 1991 and was found to produce a significant amount of oil and natural gas. It is now the largest oil-producing crater in the U.S. Although the crater can’t be seen, a museum was built to educate people on what happened at this site. Read more about it here.
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