Perseid meteor shower peaks this week: How to watch in Richmond

meteor showers over the night sky — The Perseid meteor shower in China back in August 2023. Pro tip: Give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust to the dark. Photo: Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

One the biggest stargazing weeks of the year is here.

Why it matters: Rain might be in the Richmond forecast, but we're holding out hope for a few hours of clear skies.

☄️ Catch the Perseids. The week's main event could have up to 30-50 meteors an hour streak across the sky when the annual meteor shower peaks Wednesday-Thursday under a dark new Moon.

For prime viewing, take the two-hour trip to James River State Park (a member of the International Dark Sky Association) with some binoculars from 9-10pm.
Or, head to rural Hanover and Goochland, where there's less light pollution. You can also watch it with NASA on YouTube.

Pro tip: The best viewing window is midnight to dawn Thursday.

✨ Next up: Spot Venus. Look low in the western sky 30 to 60 minutes after sunset Friday through Sunday. The brightest "star" in the evening sky is Venus.

The Richmond Astronomical Society has a 9pm viewing event on the ACAC rooftop in Short Pump on Saturday.

Fun fact: Chesterfield and Henrico libraries lend free stargazing kits that include a telescope, as long as you have a library card.

What's next: A deep partial lunar eclipse Aug. 27.

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Perseid meteor shower peaks this week: How to watch in Richmond

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