Community Corner

Where's the Best Place to See the Lyrid Meteor Shower in Sammamish?

Some years, the shooting stars are 'falling like rain.' Enjoy the show.

Flakes of comet dust striking the Earth's atmosphere at supersonic speeds will create a spectacular night-sky show beginning April 16.

The annual Lyrid meteor shower debuts Tuesday evening. It peaks Sunday night, April 21 and Monday, April 22 with 10 to 20 meteors per hour, although outbursts as high as 100 meteors per hour are possible, according to SpaceWeather.com.

Some of the best places to view the stars in the Seattle-area are near Sammamish and Issaquah, including Tiger Mountain and Rattlesnake Lake, near North Bend. For more information, chek out the Seattle Astronomical Society's website.

Find out what's happening in Sammamish-Issaquahwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The last big meteor shower was the Quadrantids in early January, when clouds threatened to obscure the show and cold weather made the adventure harder with kids. But it's spring now, meaning you can treat meteor shower-watching like fireworks viewing:

  • Pack some lawn chairs and blankets so you can get comfortable.
  • Find dark skies away from the glare of city lights.
  • Bring something warm to drink.
  • Lean back and enjoy the show.
  • Remember there will be lulls and spurts of action. Be patient.

Lyrid is among the oldest and most reliable meteor showers. Some 2,700 years ago, the ancient Chinese observed the Lyrid meteors “falling like rain” in the year 687 BC.

Find out what's happening in Sammamish-Issaquahwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The meteor shower appears to radiate from Vega, the brightest star in the constellation Lyra. But the meteors have nothing to do with the constellation. The cosmic show is created when Earth passes through the dusty tail of Comet Thatcher.

Check out the NASA video above to learn more about Lyrid. Do you have a favorite stargazing spot in Issaquah or Sammamish?

Expect the most meteors in the hours before dawn Sunday, April 21. That's because the moon is waxing and its brightness may interfere with gazing at the shooting stars earlier in the night.

The meteor shower will taper off after the weekend, but continue through April 25—the next full moon.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Sammamish-Issaquah