In Spain, the night of 10 August has its own name: the night of San Lorenzo. Traditionally, it is the night of the shooting stars, the night when everyone heads to the beach, a terrace, the countryside or the village square to make a wish whilst gazing at the sky. The Perseids have been appearing for weeks, but they reach their peak tonight, between 12 and 13 August. And this year, conditions in Switzerland are exceptionally good.
The technical reason is simple: it’s a new moon. This means the sky is darker than usual, and under ideal conditions up to 100 meteors per hour can be seen. In the Swiss mountain regions, far from the light pollution of the cities, astronomers estimate between 80 and 120 meteors per hour. Arosa, the Vallée de Joux, the area around Davos. Any place that’s high enough and dark enough will do. Even from your garden or terrace, away from the city centre, it’s worth looking towards the north-east after midnight.
For anyone who’s lived in Switzerland for years, there’s something special about doing this here. In Spain, the night of San Lorenzo is usually a communal, lively experience, with people all around. From the Alps, the scene is different: quieter, colder if you go a little higher, and a sky that on most nights is simply spectacular. It’s neither better nor worse. It’s simply a different kind of summer’s night. But the stars are the same.