When you look up at the night sky and witness the array of an uncountable number of stars, nothing can seem quite as magical. Not only does the night sky unveil its majestic beauty, but it would seem amiss to refute the sense of peace and wonder it gives just by looking up to gaze at the stars. And for this reason, The Perseid meteor shower is not to be missed! This year, the beautiful and magnificent spectacle is said to be active from July 14th to September 1st. (with the peak time from the evening of August 11th to the morning of August 13th.) Griffith Observatory states, "The Perseids are particles released from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle during its numerous returns to the inner solar system. They are called Perseids because they seem to come from near the constellation Perseus the Hero." For a "kid-friendly" resource about meteor showers and what they are, click here!
To help you discover some incredible spots to sit back, relax and enjoy "the show," we have provided a list below for your viewing pleasure. Also, don't be surprised if a piece of wisdom seems to creep in while viewing this massively beautiful phenomenon. For example, teaching us how big the universe truly is while realizing the possibility of how minor some of our "troubles" may really be.
Are the stars not lining up for you to view this extraordinary event this time? Don’t fret! There will be others to view in your future. Click here to view a meteor calendar for the rest of 2022.
Joshua Tree National Park
To view some of the darkest nights in Southern California, you need to check out Joshua Tree National Park, International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), which offers many visitors the pleasure of admiring the night sky unlike any other!
You can camp in designated campsites and areas in the park. Click here to find out more!
Laguna Campground
At 6,000 feet of elevation, Laguna Campground in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area of Cleveland National Forest is dark but chilly at night! So make sure to take warm clothes or that cozy blanket to cuddle up with while stargazing.
You may even get lucky and find there is a Star Party on the peak weekend for The Perseids meteor shower! It is suggested to inquire about such festivities with the nearby Laguna Mountain Visitor Information Center or call 619-473-8547 to confirm whether a "star party" will occur.
Anza Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego
This is the largest state park in California, Anza Borrego. Can you believe it is made up of over 600,000 miles? They have also replaced bright white lights around the park with more "dark-sky friendly" amber lights. The park has stated that the new light fixtures create less light pollution and have a more negligible adverse effect on wildlife. Click here to find out areas in the park that best view the stars!
San Bernardino National Forest, Big Bear Solar Observatory
To escape the city lights and discover the luminance stars above, the mountains may be your preferred stargazing destination! May we suggest Big Bear Solar Observatory. There’s nothing quite like having that breath of fresh mountain air while watching the meteor shower over Big Bear Lake! This is a memory you will want to hold onto forever! To find out more, click here.