Turn out the lights during perseid meteor shower

The Oneida County land and water conservation department is reminding residents that there will be an opportunity this week to turn off the lights and enjoy the wonders of the night sky.

A perseid meteor shower, to include shooting star displays, is expected to take place next weekend.

“The Perseid meteor shower is one of the best shooting star displays of the year and is active every year from mid-July to late August,” according to a land and water department press release. “This year, the meteor shower will peak around 3 a.m. Central Time on August 13, 2023, so the best displays might be seen before dawn on August 13 and after dusk on August 12. At its peak, the shower is expected to produce around 150 meteors per hour. However, that rate is under perfect conditions. Most observers will see 40-50 meteors per hour, still an impressive amount! Turn off your outside lights for a few hours, go outside,find a cozy place with an open view, and look up and around you! You can join sky watchers all over the Northwoods exploring the wonders of our beautiful dark skies. Even listening in the darkness can also lead to some thrilling discoveries. Don’t forget, simply turning off unnecessary outdoor lights, switching to motion sensor lighting, using energy-efficient bulbs in warm colors of amber, orange and red, or directing any outdoor lighting downward will preserve, protect and help us all enjoy the night!”

For more information and resources, visit https://www.oclw.org/special-projects.html or call the land and water department at 715-369-7835.