The Night Sky Over Rim Country: What to Look for in April

One of the great privileges of living at elevation, away from big-city light pollution, is the night sky. Rim Country offers some of the darkest skies in Arizona, and April has some treats worth stepping outside for.

The Lyrid Meteor Shower (April 21-22)

The Lyrids are one of the oldest known meteor showers, observed for more than 2,700 years. This year’s peak falls on the night of April 21 into the morning of April 22. Expect 15-20 meteors per hour under good conditions. Best viewing: after midnight, looking northeast.

Planets This Month

Jupiter is visible in the western sky just after sunset, but it’s getting lower each night as it moves toward the sun. Mars is high in the evening sky in the constellation Gemini — look for its reddish tint. Saturn rises in the pre-dawn hours in the east.

How to Watch

Give your eyes at least 15-20 minutes to adjust to the dark. Avoid looking at your phone (or use the red light setting). A reclining lawn chair is ideal for meteor watching — lying back is much more comfortable than craning your neck.

You don’t need a telescope. You don’t need an app. Just a clear night, a dark spot away from porch lights, and a willingness to look up.

If you want to learn more, the free Stellarium app turns your phone into a star map — point it at any part of the sky and it labels what you’re seeing.