Lyrid Meteor Shower To Light Up Rockford Skies Tonight

If you've been waiting for something extraordinary to happen in the night's sky this year, you're in luck, especially if you live in an area without a ton of light pollution.

A Lyrid meteor shower is set to peak tonight into tomorrow morning, and Rockford is one of the best spots in America for this event.

Peak Viewing Time and What to Expect

Folks say that you should be able to see nearly 20 meteors per hour, again assuming clouds and city lights don't ruin the ambiance.

The best thing you can do is head out of the city and go somewhere in the middle of nowhere to see the meteor shower.

Why This Happens in April Every Year

The Lyrids meteor shower occurs every April, happening when Earth intersects the dust cloud left by comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher), according to the American Meteor Society.

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If you haven't seen a meteor shower before, this is an excellent chance for those of us living in the Rockford area.

Tips for the Best Viewing Experience

My advice? Grab a blanket or bundle up, and make a fun night of it. There's something truly remarkable about seeing comets flying around, visible to the naked eye.

If you're busy, fall asleep early, or we're graced with plenty of cloud cover, the next opportunity to see some cool meteors will be when the Eta Aquarids appear on May 5 and 6.

Regardless of whether you're in or not, always look up; you never know what you might see.