Astrotourism in Nelson County

Tap into your inner astronomer and admire the breathtaking views of the Dark Skies of Nelson County.

Warmer spring weather is drawing more people outdoors, even after dark, to stargaze following the frigid nights of winter. April promises to be an exciting month for skywatchers, featuring a variety of celestial events — including the first meteor shower in more than three months.

Full Pink Moon: April 12-13

The first full moon of astronomical spring will shine brightly in the April sky during the second weekend of the month. It’s associated with the changing flora that arrives with the warming season.

April’s full moon is commonly called the Pink Moon — not because the moon changes color but because of the wild ground phlox, one of the first flowers to blossom in the spring across eastern North America. The plant features pink and purple petals.

Alternate nicknames for April’s full moon include the Frog Moon, the Sugar Maker Moon and the Breaking Ice Moon.

Lyrid meteor shower: April 21-22

The Lyrids in late April is a typical meteor shower with a modest 15-20 shooting stars per hour on peak night, but it gets extra attention from skywatchers as it is the first meteor shower in over three months. It also coincides with Earth Day, making it a great natural light show for folks who want to celebrate the date dedicated to nature and its beauty.

Crescent moon cuddles up with Venus, Saturn and Mercury: April 25

Early risers will be treated to a striking celestial display as four planets and the moon align in the eastern sky before sunrise on Friday, April 25.

Venus will shine brightly at the top of the formation, with Saturn appearing dimmer below and to the right, near the crescent moon. Mercury will be the most difficult to spot, sitting very low on the horizon in the pre-dawn sky.

April marks the beginning of Venus’ extended stay in the pre-dawn sky. The planet — one of the brightest natural objects after the sun and moon — will remain a prominent fixture in the eastern sky every morning before sunrise throughout the summer and much of autumn.

Eta Aquarid meteor shower: May 4-5

Halley’s Comet is a well-known celestial object, and although it will not return to the inner solar system until 2061, the annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower is another way to enjoy the comet. Debris left behind by the comet is responsible for a flurry of shooting stars on the night of May 4-5, with rates approaching 30 per hour across North America.

Pair of small summertime showers: July 29-30

Summer brings comfortable nights to spend under the stars, but there are not many meteor showers during the warmest season of the year. However, two meteor showers — the Alpha Capricornids and the Southern Delta Aquarids — will overlap in late July, combing for around 10 or 15 per hour on the night of July 29-30.

Perseid meteor shower: August 12-13

Often touted as the best meteor shower of the year, the Perseids have the perfect combination of mild weather and an abundance of shooting stars. Under ideal conditions in mid-August, it boasts up to 100 meteors per hour, with the peak falling on Aug. 12-13.

Orionid meteor shower: October 22-23

October’s Orionids is the second meteor shower that originates from Halley’s Comet, peaking on the night of Oct. 22-23. It typically sparks between 15 and 20 meteors per hour, slightly less active than its counterpart, the Eta Aquarids. As a bonus, it is named after the famous constellation Orion, which starts to reemerge in autumn after an absence from the night sky during the summer.

Taurid meteor showers: Early November

Autumn is sometimes called meteor shower season for North America as there are more meteor showers than at any other time of the year, including the Northern Taurids and Southern Taurids. The two are unique, having long, drawn-out peaks that span the first week or two of November. The drawback is that they only combine for 5 to 10 meteors per hour. But what they lack in quantity they make up for with substance, as they are often rich in fireballs — incredibly bright meteors that can light up the entire night sky for a few seconds.

Visit Astronomical League for information and printable handouts useful for everyone from the casual observer to the moradvanced amateur astronomer. They also offer printable handouts fo every month of the year, centered around what’s up in the sky mid-month.