The peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower is coming soon. As many as 50 “shooting stars” per hour are expected to streak across the night sky overnight on Sunday, August 11 through Monday, August 12, 2024.
Tthe Perseid meteor shower is one of the most dependable and does tend to produce meteors with long, bright trains—as well as the occasional “fireball” visible from cities. So you can see the really bright Perseids anywhere there’s a clear sky, but you’ll need a dark sky to see more than a handful.
Camping out in a dark sky area is the best way to witness the meteor shower, but remember to book accommodations early to avoid missing out. Consult a Light Pollution Map, find Dark Sky Place or plan to visit one of these organized events. Whatever you do, switch your smartphone off—“shooting stars” are blink-and-you’ll-miss-them events that require dark-adapted eyes.
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Nebraska
Event: “An Evening with the Perseids Meteor Shower”
Location: Visitor Center
Time: 8:00-10:00 p.m, Sunday, August 11, 2024
This annual event is hosted by rangers, who will provide telescopes (though don’t expect to see a “shooting star” through one!). Bring a red flashlight (rangers will help convert regular flashlights), lawn chairs and blankets. Website
Glacier National Park, Montana
Event: “Half the Park Happens After Dark”
Location: Apgar Visitor Center parking lot, Lake McDonald Valley
Time: 10:00-11:30 p.m., August 4-28, 2024
This general tour of the night sky, with telescope viewing and a lesson in why protecting dark skies is so important, is offered on all clear nights in August. Website
Port Crescent State Park, Michigan
Event: “Perseid Meteor Shower Observing”
Location: Port Austin Rd, Port Austin, Michigan
Time: 9:00-11:00 p.m, August 11, 2024
Port Crescent State Park on Saginaw Bay will host an event with planetarium staff, local astronomy clubs and park rangers. Website
Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah
Event: “Dark Sky Tour”
Location: North View Overlook
Time: 6:30-10:30 p.m, August 11-October 12, 2024
Dark Sky Tours will be conducted every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the North View Overlook, starting with solar viewing at 6:30 p.m, an astronomy talk at 8:00 p.m. and telescope viewing from 8:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. Website
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Event: “Night Sky Program”
Location: Cedar Pass Amphitheater, Cedar Pass Campground
Time: 9-9:30 p.m, August 11-31, 2024
View the spectacular night sky through a variety of telescopes or bring your own binoculars or telescope. Our night sky staff will be available to help you locate and identify constellations, stars, planets, and other objects. Website
Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina
Event: “Dark Skies over Bodie Island”
Location: Bodie Island Lighthouse parking lot
Time: 9:00 p.m. every Sunday until September 2, 2024
Join park rangers under the night sky and the Bodie Island Lighthouse and discover what makes Cape Hatteras National Seashore such a special place. Bring bug spray. (45 minutes) (Park in the Bodie Island Lighthouse parking lot). Website
Staunton River State Park, Virginia
Event: “Perseids Meteor Shower Viewing”
Location: Observation Field
Time: Open 24 hours through August 24
Staunton River is a 2,400-acre park with woodlands, meadows and shoreline near Scottsburg, about 25 miles from the North Carolina border. Its wide-open space, the Observation Field, will be open—the advice is to bring chairs and/or blankets for stargazing. Parking is available in the Visitor Center parking lot, and the restrooms will be open. Website
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington State
Event: “Paradise Night Skies Program”
Location: Plaza outside the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise.
Time: 9:45-11:45 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until September 2, 2024
Explore the value of dark night skies as you tour the universe with our “Dark Sky Rangers” using telescopes and binoculars. Meets in the plaza just outside the Paradise Visitor Center. Website
Pick up my books Stargazing in 2024, A Stargazing Program For Beginners and When Is The Next Eclipse?
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
