TOLEDO, Ohio — Editor's note: The attached video is from an unrelated story that aired on Dec. 21, 2021.
Friday will welcome the return of the Perseid meteor shower, a spectacular night sky light show with an annual August delivery date.
The Perseids are famously predictable. The astronomical event lasts approximately a month, with the shower beginning in mid July and ending on Aug. 24. The peak viewing time will be this Friday night (Aug. 12) into early Saturday morning, with an astounding rate of approximately 50 to 100 meteors falling per hour.
Even with the bright light of this weekend's full moon, spectators should still be able to witness plenty of meteors, although they may be a bit subdued than years when the shower falls on a new moon.
To ensure a good view of the Perseids, you'll need to watch out for more than the moon: light pollution from cities can make it more difficult--sometimes even impossible--to catch a glimpse of the famous meteors. Fortunately for those living in the often brightly-lit Toledo area, darker skies can be found just a short drive away.
The more light we produce—street lamps, headlights, even the lights in our own home—the harder it is to make out celestial objects. Light pollution means that in a bustling city you’ll be able to see fewer stars than you would in the countryside.
Light pollution is measured on something called the Bortle Scale. A ranking of 1 is true darkness, while 9 is the highest and brightest. Per a light pollution map, downtown Toledo is an 8, its suburbs a 7.
In and around cities like Toledo, you can’t see much more than major planets like Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and bright, recognizable constellations like Orion and the little dipper.
Where to view the Perseids
Even in the Toledo area, there's nothing a quick drive out into the country can't solve for hopeful astronomers. Traveling on country roads south of Washington and Grand Rapids brings you to a Bortle rating of 4. Maumee Bay State Park also offers some excellent stargazing, clocking in at a 4 as well.
Maumee Bay closes at 11 p.m., which is long enough after sunset to get a good view of many celestial objects, the Perseids included-- just be sure to observe the regulations at the location you choose to visit, including closing times.
The Toledo Astronomical Association will be hosting an official viewing party for the meteor shower at Blue Creek Park in Whitehouse. This dark sky area sits at a class 5 on the Bortle scale is free and open to the public. This event begins at 9 p.m.
Looking for an even darker sky? Try visiting some of these locations during the next new moon (the phase of the moon during which it appears "invisible" in the sky) over Labor Day weekend.
To take a look at light pollution levels for yourself, check out this interactive map.
