Shooting Stars Alert: Don’t Miss the Lyrid Meteor Shower!

Catch the Ancient Lyrid Meteor Shower Over Fuerteventura!

As mid-April skies darken over Fuerteventura, one of history's most storied meteor showers returns: the Lyrids! Mark your calendars – peaking soon, this annual celestial event offers a chance to witness shooting stars under potentially fantastic viewing conditions available across the island. Here’s what you need to know to catch the show.

What Are the Lyrids & Why Are They Special?

The Lyrid meteor shower happens each April as Earth plows through the dusty trail left by Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher). When these tiny particles slam into our atmosphere at high speed (around 110,000 mph / 49 km/s), they vaporize brilliantly as meteors.

Key highlights make the Lyrids stand out:

• An Ancient Legacy: They are the oldest documented meteor shower still observed, with Chinese astronomers recording them nearly 2,700 years ago in 687 BC! Watching connects us across millennia.

• Potential for Surprises: While typically modest (10-20 meteors/hour peak), the Lyrids occasionally unleash dramatic 'outbursts' with over 100 per hour, as seen in 1982.

• Bright Meteors & Fireballs: They often produce bright meteors, frequently leaving persistent trails, and can sometimes produce exceptionally bright fireballs.

• Radiant Point: The meteors appear to originate from near the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra (hence 'Lyrids'), which rises in the northeast later in the evening.

Echoes Through Time: Myths and Legends

This long and visible history means the Lyrids have naturally woven themselves into human culture and sky lore:

• In Greek mythology, the shower appears to stream from near the constellation Lyra. This celestial lyre represents the magical instrument of Orpheus, the legendary musician said to possess the power to charm gods, humans, animals, and even inanimate objects with his music. He famously journeyed to the underworld attempting to retrieve his love, Eurydice. Witnessing stars fall from near his lyre could evoke powerful themes of music, love, loss, fate, and the profound connection between the heavens and earthly emotions.

• For ancient Chinese astronomers, who provided the earliest written records ('stars falling like rain'), keen observation of the skies was paramount for both calendrical and astrological purposes. While specific tales focused solely on the Lyrids are varied, meteors ( or falling stars) were often interpreted as significant omens or celestial messages. Depending on context and other celestial events, they might be seen as 'sky dragons' heralding vital rain for crops, or perhaps portents of important terrestrial events like battles or shifts in power.

When and Where to Watch in Fuerteventura (2025)

• Activity Window: Generally active from about April 16 to April 25, 2025.

• Peak Viewing: The best time to watch is during the predicted peak on the night of April 22-23, 2025. Aim for the hours between midnight and dawn, once the radiant (Lyra) is higher in the sky and the sky is darkest.

• Moon Advantage: Fortunately, the Moon phase is ideal for the 2025 peak! A very thin waxing crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving beautifully dark skies across Fuerteventura for meteor watching.

Viewing Tips for Fuerteventura:

• Seek Darkness: Find the darkest possible location away from the lights of towns like Corralejo, Puerto del Rosario, Morro Jable, or other bright areas. Fuerteventura offers many beaches, inland plains, and viewpoints with reduced light pollution – essential for seeing fainter meteors.

• Adapt Your Eyes: Give your eyes at least 15-20 minutes to fully adjust to the darkness. Resist looking at your bright phone screen – use red light mode briefly only if absolutely necessary.

• Look Up & Be Patient: Lie back comfortably (a reclining chair or blanket helps) and gaze generally overhead or towards the northeast (where Lyra rises later). While the meteors radiate from Lyra, they can appear anywhere across the vast expanse of the sky. Patience is crucial – plan for at least an hour of observation.

• Check the Weather: Hope for clear skies! Check the local Fuerteventura forecast closer to the peak nights.

The Harp in the Heavens: Connecting to Constellation Lyra

The name "Lyrid" itself is steeped in mythology. Meteor showers are named after the constellation from which they appear to radiate, and in this case, it's Lyra, the Harp.

In Greek mythology, Lyra is associated with the legendary musician Orpheus. Gifted a lyre by the god Apollo, Orpheus' music was said to be so beautiful it could charm even inanimate objects. One prominent myth tells of Orpheus' journey to the underworld to retrieve his deceased love, Eurydice, his music softening the hearts of Hades and Persephone. Though he tragically lost her again, his lyre was eventually placed in the heavens as the constellation Lyra, a testament to his musical talent and enduring love.

Therefore, when you witness the Lyrid meteors streaking across the sky, imagine them as celestial tears or perhaps even the lingering notes of Orpheus' mythical harp, forever echoing in the cosmos. Some depictions of the constellation even show an eagle carrying the lyre, adding another layer to the visual narrative in the night sky.

Beyond specific myths, "falling stars" held diverse cultural meanings. Some beliefs linked them to the passage of souls on celestial journeys. More widespread is the hopeful tradition, born from their fleeting beauty, of making a wish upon seeing one – a practice still cherished today.

Final Thought: A Cosmic Reminder

Meteor showers like the Lyrids remind us that Earth is constantly moving through space, sweeping up ancient comet dust. Each shooting star is a fleeting spark from the depths of the solar system—don’t miss your chance to wish upon one!

....DECEMBER 2018 NIGHT SKY.. DECEMBRE 2018 CIELO NOCTURNO....

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The month of December is marked by the Winter Solstice, which this year falls on the 21st. This was a very important date in the calendar of the ancient inhabitants of Fuerteventura, the Majos, who – according to the historians – met on the top of their sacred mountain, Tindaya's, in order to witness the sunset, forwarding the return of the rains and of the days with more light hours. And this solstice is also announced in the night sky by the presence of the most significant of the Winter constellations, the giant hunter Orion, which for the Majos was only a part of a bigger asterism called ' the Plough', directly connected to agriculture.

Another very important date of the month, and especially for the ones who love the shooting stars, is around the nights of the 13th and 14th, with the most faithful shower of the year, the Geminids, whose slow meteors can reach the count of 120 per hour in optimal conditions of darkness. The Moon will be in her First Quarter, so will set down early, leaving then a dark sky for the second part of the night.

These days around the center of the month are also the best for the observation of our satellite, which leaves always astonished children of all ages with her seas, her craters and her mountains, which we admire with great detail through a telescope in spite of the great distance.

Clear skies to everybody!

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El mes de diciembre está marcado por el Solsticio de Invierno, que este año cae el día 21. Esta era una fecha muy importante en el calendario de los antiguos pobladores de Fuerteventura, los Majos, que - según nos relatan los historiadores- se reunían en la cumbre de su montaña sagrada, la montaña de Tindaya, para asistir a la puesta del Sol en este día, que marcaba la vuelta de las lluvias y de la época con más horas de luz. El solsticio está anunciado en el cielo de diciembre por la vuelta de la constelación más emblemática del invierno, el gran cazador Orión, que en la interpretación de los Majos formaba parte de un asterismo que llamaban 'el Arado', claramente conectado con el cultivo de los campos.

Otra cita muy señalada de este mes, y especialmente para los apasionados de estrellas fugaces, está en las noches del 13 y 14 de diciembre, con la lluvia más fiable del año, las Gemínidas, con meteoros lentos que sin embargo pueden superar el número de 120 por hora en las mejores condiciones de oscuridad. La Luna estará en el Cuarto Creciente, así que se pondrá pronto dejando el cielo muy oscuro en la segunda parte de la noche. Las fechas centrales del mes serán también las mejores para la observación de nuestro satélite, que siempre deja asombrados a los niños de todas las edades con sus cráteres, sus mares y sus montañas, que admiramos con gran detalle a través del telescopio a pesar de su lejanía.

¡Cielos despejados para todos!

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....OCTOBER 2018 NIGHT SKY.. OCTOBRE CIELO NOCTURNO....

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When October starts, Autumn is already here: the days are shorter and shorter and the nights get longer, making easier to enjoy the night sky in more convenient hours.

The mayor planets, accompanying us from the beginning of Summer, seem not disposed to leave us for the moment: while Venus and Jupiter are well visible but quite low on the Western horizon, Saturn and Mars are quite high towards the South and in a good position for an observation through the telescope. We should not miss the remarkable picture offered by 'The Lord of The Rings', so wonderful that it appears to be unreal.

The most brilliant part of the Milky Way is now slowly disappearing with Sagittarius into the Southern horizon, but another of her arms, Perseus's, is now the protagonist crossing the sky from the East to the zenith through the Summer Triangle, constituted by the stars Vega (in Lyra), Deneb (in the Swan) and Altair (in the Eagle); in this area we should not miss visiting the beautiful double star Albireo, a fascinating view through whatever telescope.

And the Moon will not miss her monthly date, once more in the second decade of the month. Her seas, her craters and her mountains leave us astonished due the wonderful details we can admire through a telescope in spite of the great distance.

Clear skies to everybody!

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Cuando comienza octubre, el otoño ya ha empezado: los días se hacen más cortos y la noches se alargan, propiciando la observación del cielo nocturno en horarios más cómodos.

Los planetas mayores, que nos acompañan desde el principio del verano, se resisten a desparecer: si bien Venus y Júpiter se presentan más bien bajos hacia el horizonte Oeste, tanto Saturno como Marte siguen altos hacia el Sur y siguen en una posición muy favorable para su observación con el telescopio. No debemos perdernos el espectáculo que brinda el 'Señor de los Anillos', tan asombroso que parece casi irreal.

Y mientras que la rama más brillante de la Vía Láctea se va hundiendo con Sagitario poco a poco en el Sur, todavía nos queda por admirar su brazo de Perseo, que cruza el cielo desde el Noreste hasta en cenit, pasando por el característico Triángulo del Verano, que forman las estrellas Vega (en la Lira), Deneb (en el Cisne) y Altair (en el Águila); en esta zona no debemos olvidar visitar a la maravillosa estrella doble Albireo, que nos ofrece un espectáculo fascinante con un telescopio.

Tampoco la Luna falta a su cita mensual, una vez más en la segunda decena del mes. Sus cráteres, sus mares y sus montañas no dejan de asombrarnos por el gran detalle que nos ofrecen con el telescopio a pesar de su lejanía.

¡Cielos despejados para todos!

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....FEBRUARY 2018 NIGHT SKY.. FEBRERO 2018 CIELO NOCTURNO....

....February is possibly the most interesting month for the observation of the Winter night sky from the Canary Islands. With the constellation of Orion very high in the first hours of the night, it is possible to admire one of the most popular and most photographed objects of the Deep Sky, the nebula M42, a fantastic star nursery found in the sword of the mythical sky hunter. This same area is very rich of telescopic targets, such as the close Gemini and Taurus, starting from the many open clusters, one of the big views of this season, or other more exotic, such as the Crab nebula, famous remnant of a supernova explosion registered some 1000 years ago. 

While we are waiting for the big planets to be back at accessible hours, for the lovers of the Solar System the Moon is present as all months; her full phase is in the first days and then will come back in the final week. Her craters, her seas and her mountains, which a telescope allows us to admire from hundreds of thousands of kilometers, will always be a fascinating view for all people.

Clear skies to everybody!  .. 

El mes de febrero es posiblemente el más interesante para la observación del cielo del invierno desde las Islas Canarias. Con la constelación de Orión ya bien alta en las primeras horas de la noche, es posible admirar uno de los objetos más llamativos y más fotografiados del Cielo Profundo, como es la Nebulosa M42, admirable criadero de estrellas localizado en la espada del mítico cazador celeste. Esta zona, así como las cercanas de Gémini y de Tauro, es muy rica en objetivos telescópicos, destacando los numerosos cúmulos abiertos, gran atractivo del cielo de esta estación, y otros más exóticos, como la Nebulosa del Cangrejo, famoso remanente de una explosión de supernova registrada hace casi mil años.
A la espera de que los grandes planetas vuelvan a ser observables en las primeras horas de la noche, para los amantes del Sistema Solar como cada mes está presente el objetivo más llamativo de todos, es decir la Luna, en fase de plenitud en los primeros días de mes y que vuelve a brillar en la última semana. Sus cráteres, sus mares y sus montañas, que el telescopio nos permite admirar desde cientos de miles de kilómetros, no dejan indiferente a nadie.

¡Cielos despejados para todos! ....