Looking for a unique way to squeeze in precious family-time and the opportunity to learn new things? Late Summer offers one of the biggest, annual meteor showers during mid-July through August. Read on for stellar viewing tips, dark sky intel and camp site information.
Viewing a meteor shower is most satisfying in a dark sky location, as far from urban light pollution as possible, such as in a rural Campground.
According to the experts at Griffith Observatory, the best way to watch a meteor shower is to travel to a wilderness area or campground that has dark skies. It’s best to choose a night when the Moon is not visible during the shower. Most meteor showers are strongest after midnight and until dawn.
Pro Tip: Dress warmly and lie back on a deck or lounge chair, so that you are looking up at the sky, facing away from the moon. Don’t look at bright lights like flashlights or cell phone displays which can desensitize your eyes for ten minutes or more.
Perseids | July 14 – September 1 Peak Night: August 12th before dawn on August 13th
According to space.com though the moon will be 50% illuminated at the time of the Perseids' peak, it will set around midnight, so there will be dark skies until dawn — perfect for meteor hunting!
The Perseids are caused by Earth passing through debris — bits of ice and rock — left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle which last passed close to Earth in 1992. The Perseids peak when Earth passes through the densest and dustiest area on Aug. 11-12. Years without moonlight see higher rates of meteors per hour, and in outburst years (such as in 2016) the rate can be between 150-200 meteors an hour.
Meteor showers are usually named after a star or constellation that is close to where the meteors appear in the sky. Perseid meteors are produced by particles shed by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. They hit our atmosphere at 37 miles (59 kilometers) per second.
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Other special events occurring in the night sky in July and August:
The Southern delta Aquariid meteor shower occurs from July 18 to August 21. The meteors will peak from the night of July 29th through to the morning of the 30th. The waning crescent moon will rise late and will not interfere with observations. The shower is best seen from the southern hemisphere. These meteors produce good rates for a week centered on the night of maximum. These are usually faint meteors that lack both persistent trains and fireballs. The parent object might be the comet 96P/Machholz. Moon rises at 12:37 a.m. on July 30. It will interfere somewhat with morning observations.
The alpha Capricornid meteor shower occurs from July 7 to August 15 with a “plateau-like” maximum centered on the 31st. The peak will occur from the night of the 30th through to the morning of the 31st. Again, the moon will not interfere with observations. This shower is not very strong and rarely produces more than five shower members per hour. The shower is notable, however, for the number of bright fireballs produced during its activity period. The parent object is the comet 169P/NEAT. Moon rises at 2:07 a.m. on July 31.
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Care-for-It
Recreating responsibly includes packing trash bags to leave our wild spaces cleaner than you found them. There is a glass ban in the Sequoia National Forest, so remember to use plastic storage containers, ziploc bags, or bota bags for camping gear and kitchen supplies instead.
Ready to go stargazing on the Kern River?
Then let’s go! At Kern River’s Edge, you’ll find spacious campsites, concierge firewood & ice deliveries, and the best viewing spots on the Kern River. With over 40 camping sites to choose from and easy access to all types of activities — including stargazing —, there’s something for everyone at the River’s Edge campsite.
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