A special treat awaits star gazers and astronomers as the Perseid meteor shower is expected to reach its highest point over San Diego County this weekend.
The Julian StarFest, which was supposed to be the ideal place to watch the sun in October, is now back after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic.
The San Diego Astronomy Associations will be organizing a Star Party on Saturday night, which is free for all to attend.
According to Cathy Handzel from the San Diego County Chapter of the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), the meteor shower is going to be a major event with many astronomers present.
The Julian StarFest at Menghini Winery is expected to draw in approximately 1,000 participants under the dark skies, according to organizers.
The Star Party starts at 7 p.m. and runs until 11 pp. People can also visit merchant booths, picnic area with a craft, wander around the swap meet area to sample some wine, etc.
The Julian StarFest’s complete schedule can be found here.
The Star Party will feature a talk by Douglas Leonard, an Associate Professor of Astronomy at San Diego State University, about the explosion of Betelgeuse and other astronomy experts.
The crescent moon’s waning phase could result in more favorable skies for sky observers this year, as it offers better views than the bright full Moon of last year.
The Julian Dark Sky Network’s efforts to preserve the dark skies make Julian a prime location for watching this meteor shower.