With warm summer nights and dark, wide-open skies, the high desert each year draws legions of stargazers to take in the Perseids meteor shower.
This year, the shower is predicted to peak the night of Wednesday, Aug. 12, and the morning of Thursday, Aug. 13, during a serendipitous new moon, meaning the sky will be extra dark for admiring the meteors and other celestial phenomena.
For those looking to supplement their star-spotting, the high desert is bursting with Perseid-inspired activities. In Twentynine Palms, inspired by the rich history of high-desert UFO sightings, the Area 29 Galactic Gathering celebrates the local, weird and otherworldly Aug. 13-16.
The Perseids is a “high concentration shower,” said Caitlin Gill, who runs Joshua Tree Astronomy Adventures. The meteors come from debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet and burn up in the atmosphere between 47 and 62 miles overhead. While the Perseids is often cited as generating up to 100 meteors an hour, Gill said that statistic can set visitors up for a letdown; instead, Gill encourages stargazers to avoid counting meteors and instead just enjoy the show, because the comet debris is “very small, but the speed at which we make the impact creates a beautiful lightshow.”
Dark places away from ambient light are best for maximum meteor viewing, which is part of what makes Joshua Tree National Park such a Perseid hot spot. If you’re planning to come to the park to see the shower, Gill recommends arriving early. Also, expect long lines to enter and exit—and prepare for company.
For those looking for an experience away from the crowds, Gill recommends going farther east to Wonder Valley or the Mojave National Preserve. If visitors are going remote, Gill said to pack lots of water and snacks; check vehicles’ tire pressures; and bring maps. You can also book a private tour with an astronomer like Gill for guided stargazing away from the crowds.
The meteor shower is easy to observe, Gill said.
“It’s one of those celestial events that requires zero equipment except a comfortable blanket, pillow and chair,” she said.
While the shower is called the Perseids because the meteors seem to emanate from the constellation Perseus, you don’t need to look at the constellation to see them. Instead, take in as much of the sky as possible. Give your eyes 15 to 20 minutes to adjust when you first go outside; spend one to two hours without looking at your phone or other bright light (though you can use red light without impacting your night vision). Otherwise, let go of your expectations, and sit back, relax and enjoy.
“People claimed they saw unidentified objects in the sky during one of Rocky Angel’s sets. I do think we’re conjuring things up here.”
Area 29 Galactic Gathering organizer sara lyons
While the sky is the star of the show, if you want to keep the celestial celebration going, there are multiple events from which to choose. For those interested in a community-oriented celebration of all things otherworldly, the third annual Area 29 Galactic Gathering in Twentynine Palms kicks off Thursday, Aug. 13, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 16. Organized by Rediscover 29, which represents locally owned businesses, the event celebrates “all the things that are weird, funny, whimsical and wonderful around UFO culture in the high desert,” said co-founder, organizer and Rediscover 29 president Sara Lyons.
Lyons added: “If everyone is looking at the sky, they might as well look for UFOs as well.”
For stargazers looking to experience the high desert’s unique culture, the galactic gathering offers plenty of opportunities. It begins Thursday night with a 21+ pool party at Luckie Park that includes a DJ set, projections by Memory Tax, and a psychedelic theremin set by Oakland-based artist Rocky Angel. On Friday, Corner 62 will host sci-fi readings, a lecture on the scents of outer space, and a screening of Alien Autopsy. Rocky Angel will also perform.
Saturday will feature an all-ages concert by ALiEN PROBE and a space standup comedy set by Billy Wayne Davis at the Elks Lodge. The weekend closes on Sunday with a black-light space jam dance party in Twentynine Palms’ historic plaza. There are also art exhibits, pop-ups, a city-wide scavenger hunt and space-themed activities all weekend long. With the exception of the pool party, all events are free. More information about the schedule and lodging options can be found at rediscover29.com.
The Galactic Gathering is “scrappy, colorful and fun,” Lyons said. “It’s a little bit weird, and we like to lean into and have fun with that.”
Whether you’re seeking quiet, dark skies or want to collectively search for and celebrate what could be out there, the high desert has much to offer during the Perseids. It’s always important to come prepared with both plenty of water and a sense of wonder.
“Take only pictures; leave only footprints; and remember you’re visiting on a high impact weekend,” Gill said.
Who knows what you will discover? Lyons said that at a past Area 29 Galactic Gathering, “People claimed they saw unidentified objects in the sky during one of Rocky Angel’s sets. I do think we’re conjuring things up here.”
