This Is The Absolute Best Place To Witness This Summer's Perseid Meteor Shower In Arizona
By Melissa Mahoney|Published June 12, 2023
×
Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and I love photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world! Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream.
When looking up at the night sky, what we can see is absolutely extraordinary. The stars and the moon evoke a sense of wonder and the realization that our universe is vast and impressive. Depending on where you live in the Grand Canyon State, however, can determine how much of the night sky you can see. With light pollution in the cities, you won’t be able to see as much of the Milky Way as, say, one of the state’s designated dark sky parks. For those who love seeing as much of the night sky as possible, head to Flagstaff. You’ll want to go there to witness the Perseid meteor shower in Arizona.
Flagstaff, Arizona is the world's first designated International Dark Sky City due to its limited light pollution.
Not only is Flagstaff home to the world-renowned Lowell Observatory but to Walnut Canyon National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and Sunset Crater National Monument, all of which are designated International Dark Sky Parks.
With this summer's Perseid meteor shower, you'll want to find a place to watch this much-anticipated celestial event. And there's no better place in the state of Arizona than Flagstaff.
This year's Perseid meteor shower is set to light up the sky from July 21 through August 22, 2023. The peak is expected between August 11 through August 13.
If Flagstaff is your chosen location to watch this year's Perseids, you can spend some time during the day exploring Flagstaff's downtown, hiking in one of the area's parks or mountains, and visiting the underrated Arboretum at Flagstaff.
Head away from the downtown area to a location near one of the city's designated dark sky parks to get the best views. And check out the Lowell Observatory website for more dark sky information.
Will you check out the Perseid meteor shower in Arizona this summer? If so, where? Tell us about your favorite stargazing location in the comments. To learn more about the 2023 Perseid meteor shower, visit Space.com. And for more information on Walnut Canyon National Monument, one of Flagstaff’s designated International Dark Sky Parks, visit the National Park Service website.