Posted in Virginia Nature December 02, 2021 by

Watch Up To 40 Meteors Per Hour In The First Meteor Shower Of 2022, Visible From Virginia

There’s a lot to look forward to in 2022, and the first meteor shower of the year should be at the top of your list. For star enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, the Quadrantid meteor shower will be an event worth viewing. Viewers who brave the early morning cold will be rewarded with up to 40 meteors per hour at the peak of the show on January 3rd, weather permitting. Here’s more on this fantastic celestial event you won’t want to miss!

Beginning on December 12th, just after midnight, the night sky will be illuminated with a dazzling meteor show known as the Quadrantids.
Kevin Key / Slworking / Getty Images
While most meteor showers experience their peak just a few hours after midnight, this shower will hit its peak and produce up to 40 meteors per hour just before dawn on the morning of January 3rd, 2022.
GarrettMartin / Getty Images
The Quadrantids are unique for many reasons, primarily because they are thought to have originated from asteroid 2003 EH1, which is nicknamed a "rock comet," and may have broken from a larger comet dismantled in 1490.
Pascal Laverdiere / Getty Images
Another reason these shooting stars are unique is their color. While most meteors appear white as they streak across the sky, the Quadrantids can appear in shades of pink, bright blue, yellow, and even green.
Daniel Pludowski / EyeEm / Getty Images
Stargazers should look near the Big Dipper to see the radius of the meteor shower. This should be easy to locate on a clear evening.
Wikipedia
The meteors are best seen in dark skies, so be sure to find a place where there won't be much light pollution from nearby houses or buildings. Virginia's state parks or Shenandoah National Park would be a memorable place to try. Just be sure to bundle up!
Joseph Gruber / EyeEm / Getty Images
So if you're lucky enough to spot 2022's first meteor shower, you're in for a magical event that you won't soon forget.
Pedro Díaz Molins / Getty Images

What are your thoughts on this upcoming meteor shower? We’d love to hear from you! If you’re looking for a great place to watch the meteor shower, be sure to check out Virginia’s very own International Dark Sky Park.

 

The OIYS Visitor Center

Quadrantid Meteor Shower in Virginia

December 06, 2021
Tori Jane

What are some fun, free things to do in Virginia?  

Virginia is a beautiful state with plenty of fun stuff to do, and better still, plenty of that fun stuff is free, too! There’s a laundry list of free things to do in Virginia that we totally love, like the beloved family park known as Mount Trashmore, which sits on what used to be an old landfill (don’t worry, it’s a lot cleaner and nicer than it sounds like it would be). In Harrisonburg, you can visit the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum located on the James Madison University campus at no cost and learn about the beautiful foliage and plant life native to Virginia. It’s open 365 days a year! Check out attractions like the Fairfax County Park, Bluebird Gap Farm, and so much more. For more information about each of these ideas and then some, check out this list of 14 totally fun and unforgettable free things to do in Virginia.  

What are the upcoming celestial events in Virginia 2022?  

Virginia is lucky for many reasons; it’s beautiful, the weather is wonderful most of the year, and the folks who call this place home are usually warm and friendly. There are also plentiful night skies over our heads each and every evening, and in those skies, some pretty cool things can happen. At a glance, some of the upcoming celestial events in Virginia for 2022 in January and February include the Quadrantids meteor shower and conjunctions of both the moon and Saturn and the moon and Jupiter. There’s also the Lyrid Meteor Shower in April, and a moon/Mercury conjunction in May. August always means the Perseids, and one can also naturally expect full moons, new moons, and everything in between. The skies are a beautiful place – much like the entirety of Virginia itself – and our state is absolutely perfect for stargazing.