Have you ever seen a shooting star? What about 100?
The Perseid meteor shower — aka the Perseids — is predicted to take 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.
💫 When to view
The best time to watch the meteor shower is late at night or in the predawn hours during its peak from Thurs., Aug. 11-Sat., Aug. 13. These days will provide the opportunity to see the brightest + most numerous meteors.
However, because of the full Sturgeon moon tonight, the showers are expected to be washed out. On this night, the sky will be darkest right before dawn.
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 that we suggest:
- Long Hunter State Park | 2910 Hobson Pk. | This state park is 2,600 acres along the eastern shore of Percy Priest Lake and is only a ~28-minute drive from downtown Nashville. Wake up bright and early Friday morning (4-6 a.m.) for this Perseid watch party.
- Bledsoe Creek State Park | 400 Zieglers Fort Rd., Gallatin | Drive about 40 minutes northeast to find a good spot for stargazing. Consider camping at the park or attending this after-hours hike.
- Edgar Evins State Park | 1630 Edgar Evins State Park Rd., Silver Point | Located ~1 hour outside of Nashville, you can head there for the night (the park closes at 10:30 p.m.) or camp under the stars.
Pro tip: You don’t need binoculars or a telescope to view the Perseid shower. 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.
