4 Celestial Events In Mississippi To Add To Your 2022 Stargazing Calendar

There’s a lot to look forward to in the upcoming year, including meteor showers! You don’t have to be an avid stargazer or professional astronomer to enjoy the spectacular celestial displays, either. Heck, you don’t even need any equipment, like a telescope or binoculars. Instead, all you need is your peepers, a dark area that’s free of light pollution, and our handy list of can’t-miss celestial events in Mississippi.

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Best seen from the Northern Hemisphere, the 2022 Lyrid meteor shower will be active from April 15 to April 29. It will peak the night of April 21, when the moon is 67 percent full, making it a bit difficult to see the meteors against the moonlit sky. However, when you spot one, you will know it since Lyrids, which are known as fireballs, are extremely bright.

The American Meteor Society/Facebook

This meteor shower takes place every June; however, it’s famously unpredictable, as scientists are unable to predict in advance how active it will be. There’s good news, though. This year, the night the Boötids will peak, June 27, is a New Moon, which makes for prime viewing conditions. If you plan on watching the Bootids this year, head out immediately after sunset, which is when activity will be at its peak.

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A summertime favorite, the Perseid meteor shower usually peaks in August – and 2022 is no exception. This year, Perseids will dance across the sky between July 14 and September 1, peaking the night of August 11. Unfortunately, 2022 isn’t exactly a great year for the Perseid meteor shower. The moon will be 100 percent full on August 11, making it hard to see the meteors.

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Talk about ending the year with a bang! Averaging about 50 meteors per hour, the Geminids are the strongest meteor shower of the year. The 2022 celestial show begins on November 19 and ends on December 24, peaking on the night of December 13. Unfortunately, like many other meteor showers in 2022, the Geminids will be somewhat muted by the moon, which will be 72 percent full.

So, what do you think? Will you be checking out any of these celestial events in Mississippi? Have you viewed these meteor showers in the past? If so, what’d you think? Tell us!

Meteor showers in Mississippi aren’t the only natural phenomenon to look forward to. There’s also the annual hummingbird migration.