Aug. 12 will be a special day for astronomy enthusiasts. People in Kazakhstan will be able to witness two rare celestial events — a planetary parade and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. Kursiv LifeStyle explains when the best time to observe them is and what makes the event so special.
The six-planet parade
Just before sunrise — which now comes very early in Almaty — six planets of the Solar System will be visible in the sky at the same time: Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
The first four planets will be visible to the naked eye. Uranus and Neptune will appear low above the eastern horizon, so it’s best to choose an observation spot with an unobstructed view, away from trees and tall buildings.
The two outer planets won’t be visible to the naked eye, so you’ll need a telescope or at least a pair of binoculars to see them. The best time for observation is about 30 minutes before sunrise.
The Perseid meteor shower peak
The main event for people in Kazakhstan will be the peak of the Perseids. This year, the peak coincides with the new moon, so moonlight will not interfere with observations. Under clear skies away from urban light pollution, up to 100-120 meteors per hour may be visible to the naked eye.
The Perseids are best observed outside the city, where there is less artificial light. For those in Almaty, good viewing spots include the Assy Plateau, the area around Big Almaty Lake, and locations along the roads to Turgen and Kokpek. Among the closer options are Kok-Tobe and viewpoints closer to the mountains past Al-Farabi Avenue, although urban lights will significantly reduce the number of visible meteors.
Notably, tour operators have already started offering night trips outside the city specifically to watch the Perseids. This option will suit those who don’t want to search for a dark-sky location themselves.
