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The year’s most popular and highly-anticipated meteor shower is back for another summer, to the excitement of stargazers worldwide. The 2024 Perseid meteor shower is estimated to occur from July 14th through August 24th, 2024, with the peak anticipated between August 11th and 13th. Now’s a great time to take stock of the best local stargazing viewpoints for a chance to see the Perseid meteor shower around Los Angeles this year.
According to Griffith Observatory, the Perseid meteor shower will hit its biggest peak in Los Angeles on the night of August 12th-13th between 3:40-4:40am. They estimate seeing an average of 83 meteors per hour, but the light of the moon will decrease visibility.
Scores of crowds are anticipated at Joshua Tree National Park during the peak of the Perseids, and the park is warning of hours-long traffic delays. If last year is any indication, it’s probably smart to buy an entrance pass in advance.
How can I watch the Perseid Meteor Shower around Los Angeles?
The best way to see the meteor shower is at a good viewing point with as little light pollution as possible. This means you’ll need to leave Los Angeles proper and head to some popular viewpoints around SoCal, such as Mt. Wilson, Red Rock Canyon State Park, Joshua Tree, Ojai Valley, and the Santa Monica Mountains. You can refer to this light pollution map for inspiration about where to go, and don’t forget to check in advance for info about park hours and road closures.
Find a comfortable spot to recline with an unobstructed view, and avoid looking at your phone to help your eyes adjust. There’s no need to use a telescope or binoculars, as they’ll narrow your field of vision too much.
It’s also important to check the weather before you hit the road. As of the publish date of this article, clear skies are forecasted in Joshua Tree, Red Rock Canyon Park, and Mount Wilson.
What is the Perseid meteor shower?
The ancient Perseid meteor shower gets its name from the Perseus constellation, which is visible near the shower’s radiant (point of origin). The shower happens every year in July and August, with the first recorded appearance dating back to 36 A.D. The meteors are a result of Earth’s atmosphere colliding with the Swift-Tuttle comet’s orbital path.
Stargazers consider the Perseids to be the best and most popular meteor shower of the year due to the meteors’ characteristic long “wakes” and impressive frequency. Some sources, including NASA, report that you can see over 100 meteors per hour during the peak of the Perseids. Others estimate about 40-50 per hour depending on location and visibility.