# The Brightest Star Is a Planet — April 22, 2026

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/space-news-and-weather-today-auroras-rocket-launches-night-sky-viewing-6693379/the-brightest-star-is-a-planet-april-22-2026
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/space-news-and-weather-today-auroras-rocket-launches-night-sky-viewing-6693379/the-brightest-star-is-a-planet-april-22-2026.md
Podcast: [Space News and Weather Today – Auroras, Rocket Launches & Night Sky Viewing](https://stenobird.com/podcast/space-news-and-weather-today-auroras-rocket-launches-night-sky-viewing-6693379)
Published: 2026-04-22T07:02:40+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-brightest-star-is-a-planet-april-22-2026--71546056
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71546056/space_report_20260422.mp3
Processing state: processed
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/space-news-and-weather-today-auroras-rocket-launches-night-sky-viewing-6693379/episodes/the-brightest-star-is-a-planet-april-22-2026
Duration seconds: 129

## Resource

Prepare for the Lyrid meteor shower peak and track the latest developments in NASA's Artemis program. This update covers upcoming asteroid flybys, solar activity, and the next SpaceX Starlink launch.

## Highlights
- Main idea: The Lyrid meteor shower peaks tonight, originating from debris from Comet Thatcher
- Practical takeaway: Look toward the star Vega after midnight to witness up to 18 meteors per hour
- Mission update: NASA has rolled out the SLS Core stage in New Orleans for the future Artemis III mission
- Space weather: High solar activity and sunspot regions increase the probability of solar flares and northern auroras
- Asteroid alert: Asteroid 202 None-threat passage of 2026 HY1 occurs at three times the distance of the moon

## Topics

Lyrid Meteor Shower, NASA Artemis, SpaceX Starlink, Solar Flares, Asteroid 2026 HY1, Space Weather, International Space Station, Astronomy

## Chapters
- 0:20 — The Lyrid Meteor Shower: Details on the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower and how to view it near Vega.
- 0:30 — Artemis Program Progress: NASA rolls out the SLS Core stage for the Artemis III mission following Artemis II success.
- 1:20 — Planetary Positions & Asteroids: Venus as the evening star, Mercury's visibility, and the close approach of asteroid 2026 HY1.
- 1:50 — Solar Activity & Auroras: Increased solar flare risks due to active sunspots and potential for northern lights.
- 2:00 — Upcoming Rocket Launches: Details on the upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink mission from Vandenberg.

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## Transcript

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