Gaia GPS
  • Home
  • Adventures
    • User Stories
    • Activities
      • Backcountry Skiing
      • Boating
      • Emergency Response
      • Fishing
      • Offroading
  • Out and Back Podcast
    • Gaia GPS

      Climber and Entrepreneur Matt Segal on Finding Balance

      February 17, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Camping and Overlanding Save Atlanta Couple’s Marriage

      February 11, 2021

      Adventures

      Backcountry Skiing in the Himalayas with Mountain Guide…

      February 3, 2021

      Backcountry Skiing

      The Best Backcountry Skiing Gear Recommendations

      January 19, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Earn Your Turns: Learn How to Backcountry Ski…

      January 4, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Lessons from the Trail: Best Out and Back…

      December 28, 2020

      Gaia GPS

      Buried Alive: Bruce Tremper Shares His Avalanche Story

      December 21, 2020

  • News
    • New Maps
    • New Features
    • Gaia GPS News
  • Shop Swag
Gaia GPS
  • Home
  • Adventures
    • User Stories
    • Activities
      • Backcountry Skiing
      • Boating
      • Emergency Response
      • Fishing
      • Offroading
  • Out and Back Podcast
    • Gaia GPS

      Climber and Entrepreneur Matt Segal on Finding Balance

      February 17, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Camping and Overlanding Save Atlanta Couple’s Marriage

      February 11, 2021

      Adventures

      Backcountry Skiing in the Himalayas with Mountain Guide…

      February 3, 2021

      Backcountry Skiing

      The Best Backcountry Skiing Gear Recommendations

      January 19, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Earn Your Turns: Learn How to Backcountry Ski…

      January 4, 2021

      Gaia GPS

      Lessons from the Trail: Best Out and Back…

      December 28, 2020

      Gaia GPS

      Buried Alive: Bruce Tremper Shares His Avalanche Story

      December 21, 2020

  • News
    • New Maps
    • New Features
    • Gaia GPS News
  • Shop Swag

How to See the Perseids Meteor Shower this Summer

by Corey Buhay August 12, 2020
by Corey Buhay August 12, 2020

The Perseids meteor shower happens every August, and in 2020 the meteor shower will peak on August 11 and 12. While the moon will appear half full (or a quarter moon) this year, the Perseids usually outshine the light of the moon, showering 50-75 meteors an hour.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic date night, an opportunity to really wow a first-time camper, or a quiet night to yourself, the Perseids are not to be missed. Here are some tips to see the meteor shower at its best.

1) Find dark skies using a light pollution map.
The full moon isn’t the only thing that can outshine the Perseids’ glow. Get as far as you can from artificial light to ensure dark skies and better viewing. Try using the Light Pollution overlay in Gaia GPS to find campsites unaffected by city lights.

Light pollution overlay map in Gaia GPS on an ipad
Use the Light Pollution Overlay to find dark skies for better views of the Perseids meteor shower.

2) Look for the Perseids meteor shower during a new moon or a crescent moon
The Perseids are usually active from mid-July through August, with a peak in early August. This year, the best time to see them is during the peak on August 11 and 12 where the meteors will likely outshine the light of the quarter moon.

3) Check the weather before you go.
Dark skies are great, but they don’t mean much if there’s cloud cover. Check the weather before you pick a meteor shower viewing spot. One good option: this 24-Hour Weather Forecast map overlay, which uses data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

4) Also check the air pollution forecast to ensure clear skies.
Overhead haze can impede your view of distant stars just like any other weather phenomenon. Check the Air Quality Forecast overlays in Gaia GPS to make sure you’re headed to a site with crystal-clear air, unaffected by smog or other pollutants.

It’s also smart to keep smoke on your radar this time of year. Check for nearby wildfires using the Current Wildfires map overlay.

Air Quality Forecast map in Gaia GPS on an ipad.
Find the clearest skies near you using the Air Quality Forecast map.

6) Get to higher elevation if you can.
If you’re close to the mountains, head uphill. Air tends to be clearer at higher elevations. Finding a trail or campsite high up on a hill or bald can also be a good way to escape obscuring tree cover.

5) Stay up later.
The best time to see the Perseids meteor shower is between 11pm and 4am, when skies are darkest. If you need to brew a cup of after-dinner coffee to hold out for the good stuff, so be it.

6) Keep your eyes about 45 degrees above the horizon
Don’t miss all the action by looking at the wrong part of the sky. Meteors are brightest when they’re overhead (as opposed to at the horizon) since that’s when they’re closest to the earth. Direct your gaze such that it makes a line about 45 degrees from the surface of the earth. We recommend packing a camp chair or a picnic blanket to lie on.

bright meteors streaking across a starry night sky
The Perseids meteor shower is not to be missed.

7) Let your eyes adapt to the dark before peak viewing hours.
It can take your eyes 30 minutes to an hour to fully adjust to the dark. Turn off all headlamps, and extinguish all campfires at least an hour before the peak viewing window starts. That means lights out around 10pm.

8) Be patient.
Remember, the Perseids meteor shower doesn’t happen all at once. Instead, it’s like a steady, peaceful trickle of shooting stars. Settle in, get comfortable, and enjoy the show.

Gaia GPSmeteor showerperseidsstargazing
4
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Corey Buhay

previous post
How Hiking Heals with Will “Akuna” Robinson
next post
New Mines and Mineral Resources Map: Mines, Mills, and Deposits Sites

You may also like

Get Worldwide 3D Maps on the Web at...

February 25, 2021

How to Use Gaia GPS for Snowmobiling

February 25, 2021

Gaia GPS Joins Forces with Outside to Transform...

February 24, 2021

How to Use Maps to Help Avoid Avalanches

February 18, 2021

The Art of Layering : What to Wear...

February 18, 2021

Climber and Entrepreneur Matt Segal on Finding Balance

February 17, 2021

Get 2,400+ Overlanding Routes with the New Trails...

February 11, 2021

Camping and Overlanding Save Atlanta Couple’s Marriage

February 11, 2021

Winter Hiking Safety Guide: How to Stay Warm...

February 4, 2021

Backcountry Skiing in the Himalayas with Mountain Guide...

February 3, 2021

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

Popular Posts

  • 1

    How to Read Topographic Maps

    October 7, 2020
  • 2

    Forrest Fenn’s Treasure has been Found

    March 12, 2019
  • 3

    How to Save Phone Battery Life in the Backcountry

    August 24, 2020
  • 4

    Gaia GPS and Apple CarPlay Bring Outdoor Maps to Your Dashboard

    February 24, 2020
  • 5

    Easy to Read, Tiny to Download: The All New Gaia Topo

    January 28, 2020

Categories

  • Adventures
  • Android
  • App Comparisons
  • App Updates
  • Backcountry Skiing
  • Boating
  • Company News
  • Emergency Response
  • Featured
  • Fishing
  • Gaia GPS
  • GaiaCloud
  • Hikes
  • How-To
  • Hunting
  • iOS
  • New Features
  • New Maps
  • Newsletter
  • Offroading
  • Out and Back Podcast
  • User Profiles
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • RSS

@2020 - All Right Reserved. Gaia GPS


Back To Top