Wanderlust Sunday: Take Me Out to the Star Game
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| Photo: rljones |
The what?
The annual Perseid meteor shower. It's been going on for a few weeks, but from our perspective, old Perseus has just been warming his pitching arm up. This week however, the game is on. For sky watchers in North America, the peak begins after nightfall on August 11th and continues until sunrise on the 12th.
Get your peanuts and cracker jacks ready.
If you're a regular reader, you may remember when Rufus and I went to Nevada's Cathedral Gorge to watch the Lyrids back in April. I don't know where, if anywhere, we'll go on Tuesday night. But I felt inspired to make a list. The possibilities are endless, but here are some places in this region with great seats for a star game. If the lights in your city are too bright to see it, where in your neck of the woods might you go?
Six Places In the American Southwest to Stargaze Alpha by State | |
 | Wahweap Marina, Lake Powell Page, AZ The thing about stargazing, is that it really only matters what the place looks like after dark. Lake Powell is an incredible place to watch the sunset. And once it does... the sky is wide open and totally dark. Photo: Tell The Truth Travel |
 | Lake Tahoe Emerald Bay, CA I'm quite sure anywhere along Lake Tahoe offers great a great view of the night sky. I highlight Emerald Bay because I thought it was particularly pretty. Once night falls, you're high in the Sierras — a few thousand feet closer to those stars. Photo: Tracy V |
 | Tecopa Hot Springs Tecopa, CA Tecopa, CA is just east of Death Valley National Park and about 90 miles west of Vegas. It's a remote spot in the Mojave with natural hot springs. The historic Tecopa Hot Springs Resort hosts star watching parties during the new moon phase. I bet it's a great spot for meteor viewing even if it's a different time of month. Photo: tecopaca.com |
 | Great Basin National Park Baker, NV Great Basin is considered one of the best places for night sky viewing, because it's one of our country's most remote parks. You can visit Lehman Caves during the day, then watch the stars from Wheeler Peak at night. Photo: Alaska Dude |
 | Valley of Fire State Park Overton, NV This place is practically Las Vegas' back yard, but it's far enough away to be pitch dark at night. It's a great spot to explore during the day while you wait for the stars to come out. Photo: tequilamike |
 | Bryce Canyon National Park Bryce, UT Most anywhere in southern Utah is a good place to watch the stars. Bryce Canyon is particularly stunning. I love the idea of seeing this view as the "pre-game" before the sun hides it from sight. Photo: Paphio |
Posted by TheWordWire at 8/9/2009 9:49 AM 
Categories: Wanderlust, Earth and Sky
Tags: Lake Powell Lake Tahoe Great Basin Stargazing Bryce Canyon Perseid Meteor Shower Valley of Fire Tecopa Hot Springs
Categories: Wanderlust, Earth and Sky
Tags: Lake Powell Lake Tahoe Great Basin Stargazing Bryce Canyon Perseid Meteor Shower Valley of Fire Tecopa Hot Springs
The hubby and I saw a few meteors above the remote woods of northern Michigan, where light pollution is less of a problem than in our other two homes (New Orleans and Los Angeles).
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Oooh, I bet that is a nice, peaceful spot to watch the sky. Sounds like you've got all bases covered with your time split between those particular places. To me, that in itself sounds like a wish come true! Thanks for your comment.
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