The Idaho Dark Sky Alliance (IDSA) is hosting an evening to unplug, look up and discover the wonders of the night sky. IDSA’s third annual Perseid-Palooza! begins at 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 13, at Sawtooth Botanical Garden.

Local astronomers and astronomy students from the BSU AstroTAC program will lead viewers on a cosmic tour including the Perseid meteor shower, deep sky objects, summer constellations and the waning gibbous moon.

The event will offer meteor watching and telescope observing, plus kid’s astro-activities. IDSA will also have information about their efforts to reduce light pollution and preserve our breathtaking views of the night sky.

The peak nights for the Perseids are August 12-13. The best time to see meteors is between midnight and dawn but viewing times will be trickier this year due to a bright full moon on August 9. To enhance your viewing experience, you might want to bring a comfy chair or blanket to stretch out on. And don’t forget to grab a coat to stay warm.

Perseid-Palooza! 2025 is co-sponsored by the Idaho Dark Sky Alliance, the Sawtooth Botanical Garden, and Boise State University. The Garden is located at 11 Gimlet Road, off of Hwy. 75 south of Ketchum.

Photo Credit: NASA