LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Stargazers are in for a spectacular show Wednesday night as the annual Perseid meteor shower is set to reach its absolute peak.
While the bright lights of Las Vegas block out all but the most intense stars, officials with Lake Mead say several recreation areas offers several prime viewing locations.
To find the best spots, astronomers use the Bortle scale, which measures light pollution from 1 to 9, with one being the best to see stars.
Here are the top spots to catch the show near Las Vegas:
- Boulder Beach (Bortle 5.7): Officials say this area is an easily accessible spot where light pollution reduces enough to reveal 1,000 to 2,000 stars.
- Temple Bar (Bortle 4.1): This location features a campground and clearer skies, with up to 2,000 stars visible.
- South Cove (Bortle 3.5): South Cove offers incredibly dark skies where between 3,000 and 5,000 stars are visible to the naked eye, according to officials.
- Pearce Ferry (Bortle 3.3): The ultimate viewing location on this list, officials say.
- Pearce Ferry boasts the lowest light pollution, offering views of up to 5,000 stars and a brilliant, unobstructed view of the Milky Way.
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From 10 p.m. until dawn, viewers under dark skies can expect to see up to 100 meteors per hour.
Park officials remind visitors to recreate safely, drive carefully on dark park roads, and pack out any trash to protect the park’s natural resources.
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