Perseid Meteor Shower
From Massacre Rim to Great Basin National Park, Tonopah, and beyond, Nevada boasts some of the darkest skies in the country. Even though millions of stars, constellations, planets, and galaxies are visible to the naked eye year-round here, one of our favorite astronomical events is the Perseid Meteor Shower, where 150-200 meteors streak through the sky every hour. Best yet, this spectacular show happens every summer—right in the middle of Nevada’s prime-time Milky Way viewing season. Load up the whole family for a trek into some of the best stargazing conditions in the United States.
Stargazing in the Silver State gets that much sweeter during the Perseid Meteor Shower, where 150-200 meteors streak through the skies every hour.
The Perseid Meteor Shower usually begins in mid-July and continues through late August. In 2024, peak viewing is expected August 9-13, with most sources calling out August 12. Special equipment won’t be required to see the Perseids, but telescopes, dark sky charts/apps, and even long-exposure camera setups can enhance the experience. We also recommend finding a secluded viewing spot away from the lights of major metropolitan areas.
Some of the best places to see the Perseid Meteor Show include Lamoille Canyon & the Ruby Mountains, the Tonopah Stargazing Park, Lunar Crater, Massacre Rim and the Black Rock Desert, Basin and Range National Monument, and both Great Basin National Park and Death Valley National Park—both of which are International Dark Sky Parks with Dark Sky Ranger-led programs happening year round. Otherwise, just about anywhere in rural Nevada and away from metropolitan light pollution works, too.
