Perseid meteor shower from Croatia – best places to watch

ZAGREB, 10 August 2021 – Stargazers in Croatia, particularly in places outside the main cities and towns, will get the chance to catch one of the brightest and most visible meteor showers of the year this week. 

The impressive Perseid meteor shower display, known in Croatia as ‘Suze Sv. Lovre’ (Tears of St. Lawrence), is considered to be one of the most spectacular celestial displays. 

The Perseid meteor shower has been visible every year since at least 2,000 years ago.

For the best possible experience, the Croatian Astronomical Union says that the best time to watch will be during the peak between Wednesday (11 August) and Thursday (12 August) night.

“An average activity of about 100 meteors per hour is forecast, and the conditions for observation will be extraordinary considering that it is the new moon, so the moonlight will not reduce the visibility of this celestial fireworks,” the Croatian Astronomical Union said, who urged towns and councils to turn off public lights to enhance the experience.

The best time to observe the sky is from midnight until the sunrise. 

“Find a place as far away from lighting and light pollution as possible and enjoy this heavenly spectacle.”

Places in Croatia with organised astronomical observations:

DARUVAR

When: 11.08. – from 21:00 do 24:00
Place: Park tamnog neba Vrani kamen – Petrov vrh
Organiser: Astronomsko društvo Kumova Slama

FUŽINE

When: 13.08. –  19:30 do 24:00
Place: Roswell selo (Fužine)
Organiser: Akademsko astronomsko društvo Rijeka

KRIŽEVCI

When: 10.08. – from 20:00 do 23:00 and 11.08. same time
Place: Strossmayerov trg (10th)/Tehnološki park (Križevci) (11th)
Organiser: Križevačka astronomska udruga Perzeidi

LOŠINJ

When: 13.08. – od 21:00 do 24:00
Place: Plaža Ridimutak (Nerezine)
Organiser: Astronomsko društvo „Leo Brenner“

SPLIT

When: 12.08. – od 19:30 do 24:30
Place: Zvjezdarnica in Gornji Sitno
Organiser: Zvjezdano selo Mosor

STRAŽINEC

When: 12.08. – od 20:00 do 23:00
Place: Stražinec 
Organiser: Križevačka astronomska udruga Perzeidi

KOPRIVNICA

When: 13.08. – from 21:00 – 23:30
Place: Gradsko sajmište
Organiser: Astronomsko društvo Koprivnica

OGULIN

When: 12.08. – from 21:00 – 24:30
Place: Vražji prolaz
Organiser: Astronomska udruga “Danica” – Ogulin

POREČ

When: 14.08. – from 21:00 – 24:00
Place: Karla Huegesa 26B, Aerodrom
Organiser: Astronomsko društvo Višnjan / Zvjezdarnica Višnjan

RIJEKA

When: 12.08. – from 20:00 – 24:00
Place: Astronomski centar Rijeka
Organiser: Akademsko astronomsko društvo Rijeka

ZADAR (PRIVLAKA)

When: 11.08. – from 21:30 – 24:00
Place: Punta artić, Privlaka
Organiser: Astronomsko astronautičko društvo Zadar

INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBSERVERS

• do not look directly at the radiant (the starting point of the meteor swarm) there you will notice the least meteors

• no special equipment is required to observe meteors (telescopes, binoculars)

• Meteors are observed with the naked eye lying on the ground, and it takes at least 30 minutes in the dark for your eyes to adapt to night conditions.

• it is necessary to move away from the space where there is lighting and light pollution in the best possible darkness

• You need a mat, lounger or sleeping bag that you can lie on when observing