As the Perseids meteor shower peaks over Switzerland from August 12 to 13, people in the alpine nation will arguably be given the best opportunity to see the stunning natural event. More than 250 Swiss towns and cities in the west of the country will switch off their public lights to help residents see the up to 200 shooting stars that will pass overhead every hour.
One of the biggest stargazing events of the year, the Perseids meteor shower is expected to peak over Switzerland on the night of August 12, 2024. Originating from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, the shower passes across the night sky between July and August each year, creating up to 200 visible shooting stars per hour if conditions are perfect.
As dust from the comet passes into Earth’s atmosphere, the particles burn up, creating the shower of light (or shooting star) that we can see from the ground. Travelling at around 60 kilometres per second, the Perseids are among the faster shooting stars.
To give their residents the best chance to see this wonder of the natural world, 250 towns and cities in French-speaking Switzerland will be switching off their public lighting during the peak of the Perseids meteor shower in 2024. Some local councils will switch off public lights in some select areas, while others have committed to switching them off entirely. This will eliminate most light pollution and create the perfect conditions to see shooting stars.
Several major Swiss cities, such as Lausanne, Neuchâtel, Yverdon-Les-Bains, Nyon and parts of Geneva like Meyrin and Vernier, will be taking part in the event. Created by Project Perséides, the eventual goal is to switch off all public lights in Europe during the peak of every Perseids meteor shower, in a bid to raise awareness of the impact of light pollution on wildlife and human health.
With the moon expected to be half-illuminated on the night of August 12, 2024, natural light pollution on the night is expected to be manageable - though the weather may remain a fly in the cosmic ointment. Radiating from the Perseus constellation from which the shower gets its name, most of the shooting stars will emerge from the northeast to east above the horizon.
To get the best chance of seeing the shooting stars, be sure to head to a location with as little light pollution as possible. Once you reach your spot, be sure to give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adapt to the low-light conditions.
To find out which other communities will be taking part in the project, and to see what other events are planned during the the Perseids meteor shower peak in Switzerland, check out the Project Perséides website.