Every summer, from any spot of the planet, people can see the Perseid meteor shower, commonly known as “The tears of Saint Lawrence”. This is one of the most spectacular astronomic phenomenon of the year and it turns out that Catalonia is full of places to watch that starry phenomenon. You just have to move a bit away from the city centres and from light pollution to enjoy the show! This post will tell you all about 4 places where you can see this meteor shower.
Valls d’Àneu Astronomic Observatory
Valls d’Àneu (Pallars Sobirà) hosts Món Natura Pirineus, an observatory that, thanks to its strategic location and its absence of light and air pollution, offers incredibly spectacular views. Its unique facilities will allow you to discover the Pyrenean sky and to watch the Perseid meteor shower in August. Món Natura Pirineus offers several activities related to the universe such as Travel through the galaxies, which consists of an indoor 45-minute didactic session followed by a one-hour part under the summer starry sky.
Valls d’Àneu is also the headquarters of Obaga activitats, another company that organizes astronomic activities in spots that are certified Starlight Destination and Starlight Reserve and offer optimal possibilities to watch meteor showers in August. Sometimes, the stargazing through a telescope is completed with local liquor tasting. Apart from a unique astronomic experience, Obaga activitats offers you a singular gastronomic moment.
Prades Mountains astronomic Park
Prades (Baix Camp region) hosts Prades Mountains Astronomic Park (CAMP), an astrophysical observatory located in La Guàrdia Plain. Thanks to the quality of the sky of Prades Mountains and Montsant, the place has been designated Protected Space of Night Environment and Starlight Tourist Destination by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government). It is also worth mentioning that this year, the Astronomic Park offers two new innovating shows: Kosmos (a tribute to the mythical series Cosmos) and SELENE (an amazing and adventurous trip to the Moon). A real must!
Pedraforca Astronomic Centre
Saldes (Berguedà region) is another fantastic spot where you can watch Perseid meteor shower as it offers a high quality night sky. Cuiol Nature allows you to enjoy an integrative discovery of the Pyrenees at Pedraforca Astronomic Centre with the help of its two telescopes (astronomic and solar) and of its cutting-edge digital planetarium, which will take you to a virtual trip through the universe. You will also have the opportunity to watch the famous Tears of Saint Lawrence, of course, live and without any light barrier.
The meteor showers can also be watched from other places of the Berguedà region, such as La Palomera (medieval village of Saldes), Ensija refuge and, obviously, from the viewpoints of Espà and Gresolet.
Montsec Astronomic Park
The last place we suggest you to watch Perseid meteor shower in August is Àger (La Noguera region), which hosts Montsec Astronomic Park and allows you to live several astronomic experiences with Tu i Lleida S.L.
Located in the Pre-Pyrenean area of Catalonia, Montsec Astronomic Park (La Noguera) is one of the star spots (you could not have said it better) of Catalonia to fall in love with the night sky and to watch the meteor showers. Apart from the Observatory, the whole mountain range of Montsec is designated Starlight Reserve and Starlight Tourist Destination. This means that Montsec is one of the most privileged places in the world to watch Perseid meteor showers and to discover the universe.
Celístia Pirineus is a company of astrotourism that was created in order to share the emotions of skywatching with all the audiences. Its astronomers will take you to this astronomic experience and tell you about the sky and all its curiosities using spectacular images. After that, they will give you the opportunity to feel it live, to the naked eye or through the telescope!
Àger also hosts Univers Quark, a company aimed at disseminating astronomy that was created 20 years ago and that has its own observatory as well as top-quality telescopes that allow you to enjoy all the stars and the planets of the night skies. And if you pay attention, you may even see shooting stars!
As the team of Univers Quark say: “however good they may be, no images you can find on the Internet and no book can be compared to the emotion of live watching”.
If you want to watch the Tears of Saint Lawrence this summer, now you know four places where you can do it!
