Have you ever seen a shooting star? What about 100?
The Perseid meteor shower — aka the Perseids — takes place throughout August. The shower happens when Earth passes through the trail of Comet Swift-Tuttle, offering spectators across the globe the opportunity to see ~100 meteors per hour when the shower is at its peak.
Ready to go meteor hunting? Check out our guide below.
When to view
The best time to watch the meteor shower is late at night or in the predawn hours during its peak Sunday, Aug. 11 + Sunday, Aug. 12. These days will provide the opportunity to see the brightest + most numerous meteors. Bonus: Even if you can’t watch the Perseid meteor shower during its peak, you can still catch views of the shower throughout August.
Where to go
When choosing a spot to watch the Perseids, aim for a location that is away from man-made light. Here are some spots near Fort Worth that we suggest:
- Benbrook Lake | ~15 miles southwest of downtown
- Eagle Mountain Lake | ~23 miles northwest of downtown
- Lakewood Village | ~45 miles north of downtown
- Lake Mineral Wells State Park | ~45 miles west of downtown
- Bonus: Tandy Hills Prairie hosts star parties once a month. Mark your calendar for the next one on Saturday, Aug. 10
Pro tip: You don’t need binoculars or a telescope to view the Perseids. If you have trouble finding the shower, make sure you are looking at the darkest part of the sky and allow your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness.
What to bring
- Blanket
- Chairs
- Bug spray
- A red flashlight (learn how to make your own).
Bonus: Pick up a sandwich from Roy Pope Grocery in case you get hungry.
