Hundreds of meteors on Sark!
When will there be hundreds of meteors?
Each year the Perseid Meteor shower occurs from around 17 July to 24 August. During that period there is usually a peak, and sometimes more than one, with an increased number of meteors. Often this is around the 12 August, and on rare occasions a peak could become an ‘outburst’ with many more meteors, as in
2016. This year the Perseid meteor peak is anticipated one day after a new Moon, so the sky will be especially dark.
Will there really be hundreds?
The number of meteors gradually increases as the anticipated peak occurs, averaging from 40 to 80 per hour, increasing to as many as 110 to even 140 an hour. While these are theoretical rates and include the very faintest, over a period of a few hours it should be possible to see several hundred meteors given clear skies.
What else will be happening besides the Perseids meteor shower?
Between 7 to 15 August, Professor Ian Morison and author Robin Scagell will be on Sark giving evening talks on a wide variety of topics and guiding telescope observation sessions. Public viewing will be available during the day with a solar telescope, and evenings with an 8-inch Meade with motor drive and Go To, a 12-inch Dobsonian and the 10-inch Meade at the Sark Observatory.
This Perseids meteor shower peak sounds special, does it happen all the time?
The next time the Perseids peak when it’s a new Moon is 2026, eight years from now, so yes this year is a bit special, and a good time if you have ever had a dream to ‘Wish Upon a Star‘ in Sark. The planets Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will all be on show, and with the new Moon we can observe a wide range of star clusters, nebulae and galaxies to be decided at the time.
Sometimes astronomy and telescopes sound technical – what if I’m new to astronomy?
No experience is necessary to enjoy stargazing, with expert guides Ian Morison and Robin Scagell. Ian is a keen amateur observer and is an expert on taking photographs through amateur telescopes. Ian’s career at the Jodrell Bank Radio Observatory involved him in many exciting projects. Robin Scagell was given the Sir Arthur Clarke Award for Space Reporting, has authored many popular astronomy books and even has an asteroid named after him!
Why go to a Dark-Sky location? Won’t I see meteors where I live? The Perseids are famous for a higher number of fireballs, so bright they can be seen during the day. You can see some meteors where you live, but it might take a while of vigilant watching. More faint meteors can be seen in darker skies, so the darker the skies, the more stars to ‘Wish Upon’! Even better, on a Dark-Sky Island location like Sark, distinct meteor colours and the full extent of the meteor tails are visible.
Why Sark? Can’t I just go to a dark area close by?
Light pollution affects a surprisingly large area. Sark has some of the darkest skies in the British Isles, Bortle Class 3, with some dark-sky readings that qualify for Bortle Class 2. There are only two other places in the British Isles with skies as dark as Sark, in remote areas of Scotland.
This sounds great! So where do I stay on Sark?
Camping outdoors is ideal for meteor-watching, giving you a perfect view of all the stars. So if you want to make the most of your stargazing experience, book at one of Sark’s two campsites on
The island also provides a safe environment for children who enjoy seeing the universe, but places are limited, so don’t wait to book to ‘Wish Upon a Star in Sark’, between 7 to 15 August, – you're in for a blockbuster astronomy week!