The Best Place In Washington To Watch The Perseid Meteor Shower

ELLENSBURG, WA — If you're a stargazer in the Seattle area interested in seeing the Perseid meteor shower, this is not going to be a good week. In addition to the usual light pollution of Puget Sound, the current forecast is calling for clouds and rain through at least Tuesday, and the moon will be full.

So, it might be time for a little road trip.

Puget Sound Energy will host a Perseid watch party at its Wild Horse clean energy facility near Ellensburg on Monday night. Central Washington University professors will be on hand to talk about the stars and offer telescope views.

The Perseids, which began July 17 and last through Aug. 24, will likely produce about 10-15 visible meteors per hour because the moon will be very close to full during the peak dates, from around Aug. 11 to 13.

If you've never been, Wild Horse is situated on top of a hill in the middle of the desert 16 miles east of Ellensburg (about a 2-hour drive from Seattle). The facility offers incredible views of the Cascades, but also a chance to see PSE's wind turbines and one of the largest solar panel arrays in the Pacific Northwest up close.

The Wild Horse visitor center will be open until midnight with free tours and snacks. Visitors can camp out at the center's patio to watch the Perseids fly by. An RSVP is required for the Wild Horse watch party.