Alpena-area residents looking for a spectacular summer night-sky show will have three nearby dark sky parks to choose from when the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak. The annual meteor shower occurs from July 17 through August 24, with the best viewing usually around Aug. 11 and 12.
Visit Alpena describes astrotourism as a growing trend and says the area is an ideal destination for observing the night sky. Rockport State Recreation Area, Thompson’s Harbor State Park and Negwegon State Park each have low enough levels of light pollution to receive dark sky park designations, creating strong conditions for viewing meteors and other celestial objects.
Peak viewing and what to expect
The peak night identified by Visit Alpena is Aug. 12. The source says the new moon will occur at 17:37 UTC that day, meaning the peak mornings will be moon-free. With little or no moonlight competing with the shower, skywatchers may have an especially clear view of the meteors.
The Perseids can produce anywhere from 80 to 200 meteors per hour, according to the Visit Alpena article. Under dark, moonless skies, observers frequently report seeing 90 meteors per hour or more. The shower is known for colorful and bright meteors, and some leave persistent glowing trails, or trains, across the sky.
EarthSky, quoted by Visit Alpena, calls the Perseids the most beloved meteor shower for the Northern Hemisphere because of the display’s consistency, color and brightness.
Where to watch near Alpena
Viewers can select the park most convenient to them: Thompson’s Harbor State Park, Negwegon State Park or Rockport State Recreation Area. The three locations are nationally recognized dark sky preserves or parks in the Alpena area, according to Visit Alpena, and are presented as the area’s primary places for watching the Aug. 12 peak.
Visit Alpena’s Dark Sky adventure guides are available at the Visitor Center at 420 N. 2nd Ave. The article recommends checking a vehicle’s license plate for the Recreation Passport “P” before entering a state park. Visitors without the passport can obtain one at the park entrance.
Why the Perseids happen
The shower occurs as Earth passes through a trail of dust left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. Visit Alpena says remnants from the comet’s orbit, including material left behind in 1862, 1479 and 1079, continue to cross Earth’s path. As that ancient comet dust enters the atmosphere, it heats up and produces the streaks of light visible from the ground.
The Perseids take their name from Perseus, the constellation where the meteors appear to originate. That apparent starting point is called the radiant. The name Perseids means “son of Perseus” in Greek mythology.
For viewers planning a trip outside Alpena, the source also distinguishes among related terms: a meteoroid is a small body moving through the solar system; a meteor is the streak of light produced when such matter enters Earth’s atmosphere; and a meteorite is a meteor that survives the journey and reaches the ground.