Adirondack night skies are breathtaking. Because there is so little light pollution, you are able to see many more stars than you ever can in densely populated places. At first, it's almost overwhelming – there are just so many! But, once you stretch out on a blanket or the hood of your car and take a moment to appreciate the scene, it becomes as exciting as it is mystifying. Imagine seeing every constellation the season has to offer, and even the totally transfixing Milky Way. It's a view that captivates stargazers and astrophotographers year round. There are a few times, though, when the stunning display gets even more impressive.
The Lyrids are considered a medium strength shower. While you're not likely to see the iconic shooting stars with the long trains, this meteor shower can produce fireballs, an extra bright variety of meteor. The Lyrids are generally visible from April 16 to 28, with peak dates falling around April 21 and 22. It will be difficult to see the Lyrids this year as they fall at a time when the moon is almost full.
The Alpha Capricornids are active in the middle of summer, from July 3 to August 15. While there is no significant peak as with other showers, your best chances of seeing a meteor are in the final days of the display. In general, the meteors from this shower are not very strong, and there are not as many per hour as seen during other showers. However, many of the meteors that are visible are of the stunning fireball variety.
The Perseids is the most popular and notable meteor shower seen from the Adirondacks. Visible from July 17 to August 26, they generally reach their peak on the warm winter nights of August 12 and 13. In the Adirondacks, where darkness provides a clear view of the night sky, it is not abnormal to see as many as 50 or 75 shooting stars per hour on peak nights! For the best views, direct your gaze toward the constellation that this shower is named for – Perseus. While the moon is liable to be bright during the height of this year's Perseids display, this shower is so strong you may still see meteors despite the light from the moon. For the best views, head outside in the early hours before dawn.
The Orionids is a somewhat unpredictable meteor shower. Active from October 2 to November 7, the strength of this shower varies year to year. Usually considered a medium strength shower, it has seen years of high activity that were almost on par with the Perseids. Turn your attention to the night sky on October 21 and 22 to see how the Orionids perform this year.
What could possibly be more impressive than a meteor shower? A meteor storm! The Leonids have produced these outbursts of meteor activity several times over the years. Unfortunately, scientists don't anticipate another Leonids storm until 2099, and very weak activity from now until 2030. If you feel lucky, check for activity at the peak of the Leonids, on November 16 and 17.
December's Geminids are the superstars of the meteor shower game. Visible in winter's cold night skies from December 4 to 17, the Geminids are known for bright and intensely colored shooting stars. While you will need to brave the cold to see these meteors, they are one of the only displays with decent activity prior to midnight. Direct your gaze on the nights of December 13 and 14 toward the constellation of Gemini for best results.
Right after the Geminids, look for the lesser-known Ursids. Generally visible during early morning hours on December 21 and 22, you might just see a shooting star during your dark morning commute.
While the Quadrantids have good potential as far as celestial activity, they are hard to see due to a short nightly activity period and frequent cloudy or snowy weather during peak days, which fall on January 3 and 4.
