Where to See Shooting Stars Near Newmarket on August 12-13

The Perseid meteor shower reaches its 2026 peak overnight from August 12 into the early hours of August 13. With a new Moon keeping the sky dark, this is one of the year’s best opportunities to trade Newmarket’s streetlights for shooting stars.

This guide covers where to watch, when to look up and how to avoid driving two hours just to admire a particularly dark cloud.

What is happening in the sky?

The Perseids are an annual meteor shower produced when Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Those small particles enter the atmosphere at high speed and burn up, creating the streaks commonly called shooting stars.

The American Meteor Society’s 2026 meteor calendar identifies August 12–13 as the peak night and lists the Moon as 0% full. That means there should be little to no moonlight washing out faint meteors.

At a genuinely dark site, observers may see dozens of meteors per hour near the peak. The Planetary Society estimates roughly 50 to 75 per hour under dark conditions, although actual results depend on clouds, light pollution, haze, your viewing direction and how long you stay outside.

Translation: the sky has prepared a strong lineup. Weather remains the unpredictable opening act.

What time should you watch?

Start watching around 10 or 11 p.m. on August 12, but plan to stay out after midnight.

The Perseid radiant—the part of the sky from which the meteors appear to originate—climbs higher as the night progresses. That generally makes the hours between midnight and dawn the most productive.

You do not need to stare directly at the Perseus constellation. In fact, meteors may appear anywhere overhead. Find the widest open view you can, lean back and take in as much sky as possible.

Give yourself at least 30 minutes. Meteor watching is less like pressing play and more like waiting for the universe to remember you are there.

Where to see the Perseids near Bradford

1. A rural property with permission

For the simplest local option, ask a friend or family member with property outside the brighter parts of Bradford,

Newmarket, Aurora and Richmond Hill.

Rural areas around East Gwillimbury, Georgina, Mount Albert and northern York Region may offer darker horizons than central Newmarket. Look for a property with:

• A broad, unobstructed view

• Few nearby streetlights

• A safe place to park off the road

• Clear permission from the owner

• Space to sit away from headlights

Avoid stopping on a rural shoulder, blocking a farm entrance or walking into a field without permission. A dark location is useful. A dark location shared with moving traffic is not.

This option also gives you an easy backup plan. When clouds roll in, the drive home is shorter and the disappointment comes with better snacks.

2. Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve

Torrance Barrens is one of the most established stargazing destinations within driving distance of Newmarket. Its main viewing area is a smooth granite outcrop near the Ministry sign on Southwood Road, with a wider panorama available farther along the marked route.

The official Torrance Barrens stargazing information should be checked before travelling.

Expect the site to be busy during the Perseid peak. Arrive before full darkness so you can understand the parking area, trail and rocky surface while you can still see them.

Keep these rules and courtesies in mind:

• Use dim red light instead of a white flashlight.

• Switch off headlights as soon as it is safe.

• Keep music and conversations low.

• Pack out all garbage.

• Do not light fires.

• Camp only at one of the six designated campsites.

Camping and fire-making are prohibited outside those designated sites.

Torrance Barrens is a protected natural area, not an outdoor festival venue. Bring less, leave nothing and let the sky handle the entertainment.

3. North Frontenac Astronomy Park

For a more committed dark-sky trip, North Frontenac Astronomy Park offers a public observing area at 5816 Road 506, south of Plevna.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Its amenities include parking, an observing pad, accessible washrooms, electrical service and picnic tables.

Because it is designed for astronomy, it is a better fit for an overnight viewing session than a regular municipal park. It is also a substantial drive from Newmarket, so compare the cloud forecasts before committing.

The official North Frontenac Astronomy Park guide includes current visitor information and policies.

4. Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area

The Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area is located north of Napanee near Erinsville. It offers a concrete observing pad where visitors can set up chairs, cameras and telescopes.

The viewing area is open from dusk until dawn, does not require regular registration and currently offers free admission.

This is the farthest option in the guide, but it is specifically set up for overnight astronomy. It makes sense when you want to turn the meteor shower into a proper road trip—or when the southern forecast is dramatically clearer than Muskoka’s.

Before choosing any public location, check:

• Posted closing hours

• Overnight parking restrictions

• Gate-closing times

• Local bylaws

• Whether washrooms remain accessible

• Whether nighttime access is specifically permitted

Do not assume an unlocked gate means overnight visitors are welcome.

How to find a genuinely clear sky

A general weather app may say “clear” while thin cloud, smoke or haze still blocks faint meteors.

Check conditions on August 11 and again shortly before leaving on August 12. Focus on:

Cloud cover

You need breaks across a large portion of the sky, not one small clear patch directly overhead.

Transparency

Humidity, haze and airborne particles can make the sky look washed out even when there are few clouds.

Wildfire smoke

Smoke may reduce visibility across a wide area. Check the local air-quality and smoke outlook before starting a long drive.

The hourly forecast

Conditions can change substantially between sunset and 2 a.m. A cloudy evening does not always mean a cloudy pre-dawn period—or vice versa.

Clear Sky Chart provides astronomy-focused forecasts showing hourly cloud cover, transparency and atmospheric seeing.

Choose the clearest reasonable destination, not automatically the darkest one. A slightly brighter site under open skies beats a famous dark-sky preserve under solid cloud.

How to see more meteors

Let your eyes adjust

Spend 20 to 30 minutes away from bright light. Looking at a phone or into headlights can undo that adjustment.

Use a red flashlight and turn your screen brightness down before arriving.

Skip the telescope

Meteor showers are best viewed with the naked eye because meteors can appear across a large section of sky. A telescope shows a very narrow area and may help you miss the main event with impressive precision.

Look away from direct light

Position nearby streetlights, buildings and vehicles behind you. Shielding one bright light can make a noticeable difference.

Stay longer

Meteor activity comes in waves. You may see nothing for several minutes, followed by two or three streaks close together.

A 10-minute visit is a sky check. An hour or two is meteor watching.

What to bring

Keep the setup comfortable and uncomplicated:

• A reclining chair or waterproof blanket

• A warm sweater or light jacket

• Closed-toe shoes

• Water and simple snacks

• Bug repellent

• A dim red flashlight

• A portable charger

• A garbage bag

• A thermos for the post-midnight stretch

Temperatures can feel much cooler when you are sitting still. Bring one more layer than the daytime forecast suggests.

A note for photographers

A phone may capture an especially bright meteor, but a camera with manual controls gives you better odds.

Use a tripod, a wide-angle lens and repeated long exposures. Focus manually on a bright star and avoid touching the camera between shots.

Do not spend the entire night adjusting settings, though. The best meteor of the evening has a habit of appearing while someone is deep in a menu labelled “advanced noise reduction.”