Only in Your State | Posted in New Mexico |March 23, 2020 | by Monica Spencer
If you are looking for a reason to bask in New Mexico’s dark night skies, there is one astronomical event happening that will shower you with sublime beauty.
Each April, the Lyrids are a meteor shower that creates a dazzling display as it sprays across the night sky.
The event takes place between April 16 and 30, 2020, with the meteor shower best visible in the early morning hours. The Lyrids are named after the nearby constellation it passes—Lyra, which is located next to the Hercules constellation—and just happen to be the oldest known shower in history.
The earliest sighting dates back to 687 B.C.when it was spotted and documented by Chinese astronomers. Those very astronomers poetically described the shower, stating that “at midnight, stars fell like rain.” Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? In mid-April, you’ll spot various numbers of meteors flitting across the sky.
During pre-dawn time, dozens of meteors might be visible. The best part of this? The moon will only appear to be a sliver tonight, meaning you can revel in an incredible show in an almost moonless sky.
Occasionally, you’ll be treated to fireballs racing across the sky.
They sound dramatic but are essentially just meteors that are significantly brighter and often leaving trails that are slow to fade. For the best views, we recommend leaving the city and heading out into nature.
Dark Sky locations like Capulin Volcano National Monument offer spectacular views without light pollution or crowds. You can find a list of Dark Sky places in this article.
