The night sky in April is sure to be amazing from a supermoon to shooting stars. Mark your calendars!
The following written content by Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and staff writer
As the old poem goes, April showers bring May flowers, but April will also bring a medley of astronomical events, including the first meteor shower in nearly four months.
The milder spring weather will entice more people to spend some time under the stars compared to the colder nights of winter, but spring storms could obscure the sky, potentially spoiling some of the events that can only be seen on one specific night.
April also marks the three years until one of the biggest astronomical events in the U.S. this decade.
Here are the top three astronomy events to look for in April:
1. Pyramid of light after sunset
When: Early April
The weeks surrounding the equinox bring an opportunity to spot a phenomenon that is only visible in the night sky two times a year, and with the March equinox in the rearview mirror, time is running out to see it until it appears again around the September equinox.
A pyramid-shaped glow known as the zodiacal light should be visible during the first nights of April for those with a sharp eye and located far away from light-polluted cities. In March and early April, it can be seen in the western sky after sunset in the Northern Hemisphere and in the eastern sky before sunrise in the Southern Hemisphere.
The dim glow in the sky is caused by light from the sun reflecting off of dust scattered throughout the solar system. It can be very difficult to spot, so being in a dark area far away from light pollution is key in order to witness the phenomenon.
2. Lyrid meteor shower
When: April 21-22
For the first time since early January, a meteor shower will grace the night sky for the perfect outdoor event to kick off a day focused on the environment.
The Lyrid meteor shower is set to peak on the night of April 21 into the early hours of April 22 and is sometimes called the “Earth Day meteor shower” since it spills into the opening hours of the annual event geared at ways to help protect the planet. Read more from Accuweather.
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