Peer into the Perseid Meteor Shower and more galactic views.
John Denver , for his hit song “ Rocky Mountain High , ” sang “ I ’ve seen it rainin ’ fire in the sky / The tincture from the starlight is softer than a berceuse ” after watching the Perseid meteor shower . This weekend — in the peck , vale , and parks of Arizona — you , too , can gain your own inspiration see the annual Perseid meteor cascade over Arizona scatter as many as one - hundred or more “ shooting stars ” per minute at its blossom .
Astronomy geeks ( like myself ) peculiar about the cause of the Perseid meteoroid shower bath can check withNASAto find that the meteoroid are in reality small rocks , debris throw off by the comet Swift - Tuttle that orbits the sun every 133 years . Earth passes through this debris cloud every August , with the burning rock unhorse up the sky in front of the configuration Perseus , hence the name .
“ This is kind of one of the go - to meteor showers to see , ” says Kevin Schindler , historiographer at Flagstaff ’s Lowell Observatory . And it ’s well-heeled to watch . “ Just catch a reclining chair , lie down , and look up , ” laugh Schindler , “ it really is moderately simple . ”
A starry sky in Flagstaff, Arizona.|Geoffrey Hunt/Getty Images
The meteor shower is presently on-going , lasting until August 24 , peaking just after midnight on Saturday , August 12 , with prime catch time 1 to 2 am Arizona time until break of day on August 13 . This twelvemonth ’s display should be even more vivid because the moonshine will be a small waning crescent this weekend , keeping the sky sorry .
No binoculars , scope or star single-valued function are necessary to savor the show . You will , however , require to find a gloomy space forth from ambient city lights to best see the meteor . luckily , Arizona , even around the Phoenix area , has mess of “ benighted sky ” locations from which to reach a great linear perspective . ( There ’s evena new resortcertified by the Dark Sky powerfulness that be . )
Here are just a few spots in and around Phoenix for some great star - watching .
Stargazing Spots Around Phoenix, Arizona
Grand Canyon
The Phoenix Astronomical Society issue a lean ofArizona Dark Sky Observing Sitesthat have the least amount of ground - ground light to obscure star ( and meteor shower ) viewing . Though true enthusiasts venture north the Grand Canyon to find the ultimate dark sky viewing spot , but it middling much run without saying but we will anyway : It ’s one of the most democratic ( cough , crowded ) stargazing spots . aloofness : 145 air mile , 2- to 3 - hour drive
Apache Wash Trailhead
Just north of Phoenix , the Apache Wash Trailhead is a majuscule jumping off percentage point for star - observance . It branches to several different track , some of which that leave uphill to some skillful viewing vantage percentage point . Others conduce out into the open , sullen desert . Distance : 30 miles , 37 - moment movement
Lake Pleasant
The Space Tourism Guide highlights16 top stargazing positioning around the Phoenix arealike Lake Pleasant and Tempe Town Lake that supply estimable views within convenient commutation distance . There ’s also a campground if you want to make a whole Nox or weekend of it . Distance:43 miles , 50 - minute drive
Tempe Town Lake
Tempe Town Lake is another Space Tourism good word . It ’s democratic for starry - eyed newbies who are just getting into the pastime . Distance : 10 miles , 15 - minute thrust
Lowell Observatory
Thedark skies around Flagstaffand Lowell Observatory offer many great catch spots that are deserving the trip . In the mound above Flagstaff , the venerableLowell Observatoryis the cornerstone of the city ’s celestial past , present , and future . constitute in 1894 by Percival Lowell , the observation tower is the place from which Pluto was discover in 1930 , and where the first beat of the expanding universe pass off in the 1910s .
Arizona State Parks’ Star Parties
If the meteor shower enliven you to do some continued stargazing , check out one of Arizona State Parks’Star Partiesacross the state this fall . Rangers and astronomers will put up telescopes and guiding viewing session for visitors on select night . For further stargazing and education you could also visitAstronomy Nightsat the planetarium at Mesa Community College , and regular astronomy shows at theDorrance Planetariumat theArizona Science Centerin Phoenix .
So whether you ’re look for inspiration to publish your own hit song , concerned in getting into stargazing , or just want a free show late this Saturday night , get out , dwell down and look up to watch the wonders of the Perseid shooting star shower .
