Swiss towns to turn off street lights to help locals see meteor shower

The peak of the Perseids meteor shower - typically the best and brightest meteor shower of the year - is coming up next week, and once again several Swiss towns have announced that they will partially shut off street lighting to enable locals to get a better glimpse of the shooting stars. 

Three municipalities in Neuchâtel dim their lights for meteor shower

Street lighting will be partially switched off in the municipalities of Neuchâtel, La Chaux-de-Fonds, and Le Locle on the night of August 12-13, Blick reports. By minimising light pollution, the effort should help residents observe the night sky and perhaps spot some meteors. 

The three towns in Canton Neuchâtel have been dimming their lights for the Perseids for several years now. The idea is to encourage residents to enjoy the meteor shower, and raise awareness of the harmful effects of life pollution. The initiative is supported by the three municipalities and their local energy provider, Viteos. 

The blackout will affect:

• The entire municipality of Le Locle, including Les Brenets
• Parts of La Chaux-de-Fonds
• Parts of Neuchâtel
• The localities of Peseux, Corcelles-Cormondrèche and Valangin

Perseids reach their peak on August 12 in 2025

The Perseids are due to reach their peak on the night of August 12-13. Unfortunately, as that date is just a few days after the full moon, the night sky will be bright, making conditions not exactly ideal for stargazing, but the dimming of street lights will certainly help. 

On the night of August 12, the city of Neuchâtel will also organise a guided walk to introduce participants to the region’s local wildlife, as well as a moon and shooting star observation.