Weekend Stargazing: Where to See the Lyrid Meteor Shower

The first major meteor shower since January began Wednesday and will last until this coming Friday.

The Lyrid showers have been thrilling stargazers for some 2,600 years with the magnificent display usually peaking on April 22. According to AccuWeather, meteorologists are monitoring sky cover this week for the viewing possibilities of the Lyrids, the first major meteor shower since early January.

The shower should be visible from April 16 - 26, peaking during the predawn hours of Sunday, April 21, and Monday, April 22. While the Lyrids average 10 to 20 meteors an hour, AccuWeather's Mark Paquette said in a press release that there is potential for significantly more.  "It is unpredictable," Paquette said. "Sometimes lyrids have 'surges' which can break up the rate to near 100 per hour." Paquette said that the Lyrids, named for their …

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Quadrantid Meteor Shower 2013 Peaks Thursday Night

Check out when's the best time to watch it and where to look. Hint - it's early morning Jan. 4, when the moon sets. That is for the astronomy enthusiasts willing to go the extra-mile and stay up late for a spectacular - and natural - fireworks show.

Geminid Meteor Shower 2012: When and Where to Watch

The most reliable meteor shower of the year, the Geminids, is on its way. Here are some tips for viewing the celestial show.

The Geminid meteor shower 2012, the final major meteor shower of every year and likely to be the best, peaks overnight Dec. 13 and Dec. 14, and you may be able to see a great show on either side of those dates. If you liked the Perseids meteor shower 2012 in August, you should love this show. NASA reports that the Geminids are a relatively young meteor shower, with the first sightings occurring in the 1830s with rates of about 20 per hour. Over the decades the rates have increased, regularly spawning between 80 and 120 per hour at its peak on a clear evening. How spectacular is it? Just take a look at this video of the Geminid meteor shower. You can also look at some spectacular photos of the Geminids. Tips for best viewing Earthsky.org …

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Where to Watch the Leonid Meteor Shower

The Leonid meteor shower will peak on Nov. 17 and Nov. 20.

Keep your eyes on the sky during the pre-dawn hours of Nov. 17-20, because that's when the famous Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak. These meteors are fast (about 40 miles per second) and can leave trails of smoke, according to Astronomy.com. They will appear to radiate from the constellation Leo the Lion and can vary in color. "Many Leonids are also bright. Usually, the meteors are white or bluish-white, but in recent years some observers reported yellow-pink and copper-colored ones," according to Astronomy.com.  You can watch for shooting stars in nearby Cartersville at Tellus Science Museum. Red Top Mountain State Park's "Meteors and More: Appreciating the Night Sky" is set for the same night the Leonids are expected to peak—…

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