Get Out of Michigan Cities This Weekend – Here’s Why

If you live in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Detroit, Flint or any other Michigan city, officials with NASA say this weekend is a good weekend to be out of town.

That's because that's when the annual Perseid meteor shower will be at its peak!

SEE ALSO: A Massive Meteor Crater Lies Beneath This Michigan Cornfield

The weather for much of Michigan should cooperate for optimal viewing of the Perseids, which NASA says will be at its absolute best for 2024 this Sunday night (August 11th) heading into Monday morning (August 12th) - ideally after the moon has set.

Why Should I Leave the City to View the Meteor Shower?

If there's a considerable amount of city lights where you are, that's going to make viewing the night sky more difficult.

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Watching for meteors - or shooting stars, as many call them - is easier when you're away from bright lights at ground level that may hinder your view.

This light pollution map can help you find the best places in Michigan to watch for the meteor shower. The Headlands International Dark Sky Park near Mackinaw City is probably Michigan's absolute best place for viewing the Perseids, but there are plenty of other rural locations that are suitable as well.

Where Should I Look in the Sky?

According to NASA, you should be able to spot some shooting stars no matter which way you're looking during the peak of the event. How many can you expect?

There can be as little as a few dozen per hour, but some rare years bring a brief "burst' of up to two hundred beautiful "shooting stars" an hour.

Under a clear, dark sky, most skywatchers in Michigan can expect to see at least one meteor about every minute or so.

What Are the Best Ways to View the Meteor Shower?

The Perseids are best viewed by the naked eye, according to NASA.

Since they'll be all over the sky, limiting your view via binoculars or a telescope will significantly reduce your chances of spotting these shooting stars. It's also a good idea to keep your cell phone in your pocket - even checking it for a moment will cause your eyes to adjust to the light given off by your phone, and it'll take longer to re-adjust to viewing the dark sky.