Joshua Tree National Park tops list for prime Perseid meteor viewing tonight

Tonight’s peak of the Perseid meteor shower coincides with a New Moon, creating optimal darkness for skywatchers, especially in California. NASA predicts 50-100 meteors per hour for many parts of the state, with the highest rates expected after 9 PM and into the pre-dawn hours of August 13. Joshua Tree National Park, recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, offers expansive, light-free horizons and a dry climate that limits haze, making it the fifth-ranked U.S. viewing spot on Yahoo!

News’ list. Campgrounds remain open with rates starting at $30, and other leading sites include Bryce Canyon (Utah), Badlands (South Dakota), Black Mesa (Oklahoma), and Cherry Springs (Pennsylvania). The shower will persist until August 24, though growing moonlight will reduce visibility, and a rare solar eclipse over the Atlantic may allow daylight meteor sightings for observers there. A planetary alignment featuring all six visible planets, except Venus, was also visible before sunrise.