Perseids light up Colorado skies

Colorado readers are invited to watch the Perseids while also catching a dawn planetary lineup and the Milky Way in dark mountain skies.

Perseids light Colorado skies as planets align in August

Colorado's night skies will host the Perseids meteor shower this August, with an estimated 150 shooting stars per hour on the peak night of August 12. Observers in dark, high mountain locations far from city lights should have the best chance to see bright streaks, though a bright waning moon could wash out some fainter meteors.

Astronomer Mark Laurin, known as Astro Mark, says August is one of Colorado's prime months for stargazing. In addition to the meteor shower, stargazers can glimpse the Milky Way, the Summer Triangle, and a pre-dawn planetary alignment featuring Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. He suggests heading out on August 11, a couple of hours after sunset, when the moon is still below the horizon and the sky is darker.

The Perseids offer more than a pretty light show. They can spark curiosity in families, students, and visitors and give local groups a chance to host outreach events. Such moments also help small towns attract visitors during a quiet season.

But the story also points to a longer trend. Keeping skies dark requires ongoing effort as growth and artificial lights spread. A strong community response to protect dark skies could sustain this kind of spectacle for years to come and turn stargazing into a lasting cultural asset for the region.

Highlights

The night sky remains a shared invitation to wonder.