Until September 1, grains of dust and rocks will streak across the night sky as they collide with Earth’s atmosphere.
The Perseid meteor shower, the most dazzling annual meteor shower observed from Earth, returns to the night sky near you this summer.
Shasta, Siskiyou and other upstate counties offer excellent locations to view the Perseids, visible as our planet passes through debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle.
The last time this comet visited Earth was in 1995. It orbits the Sun every 133 years, so it will be about a century before Swift-Tuttle circles the Sun again. But it left us with a gift in its wake: a huge cloud of dust and rocks. When Earth passes through this cloud each summer, it is a spectacular sight when viewed from dark locations like national parks.
According to NASA, several characteristics make the Perseids a must-see meteor shower compared to other annual showers:
- Meteors are very fast and bright and leave long trails of light and color as they enter the Earth’s atmosphere.
- There are plenty of meteors to observe: 50 to 100 meteors per hour, of varying brightness, at peak times and dates.
- Many meteors can be seen with the naked eye. The brightest fireballs can be seen in cities where ambient light obscures most objects in the night sky.
Here are the top observation locations in the Northern State, the dates and times when the rain is most active.
When to watch the meteor shower
This year, the shower peaks on August 13, but you could see meteors any time through August.
Meteors are visible as early as 10 p.m., but the best time to see them is before dawn, according to NASA. Meteors are most commonly seen in the Northern Hemisphere.
Where to Watch the Meteor Shower in Upstate
The Perseids are visible at night in places free from light pollution. Try to get a good view of the northern sky.
If you live in an area with lots of daylight, drive out into the countryside for the best views. Some of the best places to see the phenomenon are upstate parks, but many of these parks close at nightfall.
Meteor spotters, astrophotographers and park staff have offered their picks for where people can get the best views of the Perseids.
Shasta County
Lassen County
Lassen Volcanic National Park has some of the best unobstructed stargazing in the northern part of the state.
- Prime locations are the shores around Lake Helen and the Bumpass Hell parking lot.
- On the north side of the park, observe the skies from the shores of Manzanita Lake, Butte Lake, the Chaos Jumbles pullout area, and the blighted area.
- For stargazing hikes, try the Crags Lake Trail and around Cinder Cone.
- For those who want to watch from their vehicle, the Bumpass Hell parking lot and rest areas along the park highway are the best spots.
Avoid areas closed due to damage from the Dixie Fire. For closures, visit nps.gov/lavo.
What to bring
At night, it can be cold in nature, especially at high altitudes. The coldest hours are usually just before dawn. Bring a jacket or blanket if you plan to observe meteors from high latitudes and wear comfortable shoes or hiking boots.
Charge your cell phone before you leave and make sure you have access to fire updates and road closure information. Take precautions when traveling in wilderness areas, especially at night.
Bring a compass or download a compass app to find magnetic north.
Although you probably won’t need them, some amateur astronomers carry binoculars. Keep in mind that they limit your field of view, but they certainly help you see a fireball in their field of view.
Where to find out more
For more information on the Perseids, visit NASA’s website at go.nasa.gov/3wTi56n.
New meteor showers on the horizon in 2024
Although other meteor showers may not be as spectacular as the Persids, more meteor showers are expected in 2024, from September to December.
The number of meteors visible per hour is based on darker skies. So if you’re observing in an area with streetlights or other artificial light, you’ll see fewer fireballs.
Most meteors are visible to the naked eye, according to NASA, the Old Farmer’s Almanac, SeaSky.org, EarthSky.org, and the American Meteor Society. Times and dates are adjusted for Pacific Standard Time, so some dates may differ from sources that list Eastern Time or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
- Taurid Meteor Showers: These long, scattered showers are born in the southern sky. They form when the Earth crosses two debris fields: one left by an asteroid, the other by a comet. Southern Taurids are from September 23 to November 12, with a peak late in the night of November 4-5. Northern Taurids Meteor showers occur from October 13 to December 2, with a peak around November 11 or 12. The best times to view them are from 10 p.m. to midnight on November 4, when the two showers overlap. Average number of meteors per hour: 3 to 10
- Draconids meteor shower: This show peaks from October 7 to 8 in the northwest sky. The best times to observe it are from early evening until midnight. Average number of meteors per hour: 6 to 10
- Orionids meteor shower: Halley’s Comet created this dust shower, which peaks from October 21 to 22. It originates in the southern sky. The best time to observe it is around midnight. Average number of meteors per hour: 10 to 20
- Leonids meteor shower: Look south for the Leonids, which peak November 17-18. The best times to see them are between midnight and dawn, but the bright moon can blot out faint fireballs. This meteor shower varies, with a few fireballs per hour in some years, and then hundreds of meteors hitting the atmosphere about every 33 years. The last major shower was in 2001. This year will likely be a light shower. Average meteors per hour: 10-15
- Geminids meteor shower: You can see this meteor shower at its peak anytime from December 13th to 14th. The Geminids come from the northeastern sky. Average number of meteors per hour: 75, with periods up to 120
- Ursids Shooting Star Shower: This brief meteor shower, which originates in the northern sky, is made up of debris left behind by comet 108P/Tuttle. Its peak occurs on December 21 and 22. The best times to observe it are from midnight to dawn. Average number of meteors per hour: five
For more information on these and other sky observations, visit NASA’s website at spaceplace.nasa.gov and the astronomy websites Earth/Sky.org, SeaSky.org and SkyAndTelescope.org. For meteor shower updates, visit the International Meteor Organization’s website at imo.net.
Jessica Skropanic is a science, arts, social issues and current affairs reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and current affairs. Follow her on Twitter@RS_JSkropanic and onFacebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal Facebook leisure group. To support and perpetuate this work,Please subscribe today. Thank you.