With the arrival of the peak period of the Perseids meteor shower and the Qixi Festival, the Taipei Astronomical Museum has announced special guided tours in August to introduce themes such as understanding the Qixi Festival, the Perseids meteor shower, and exploring small celestial bodies beyond the planets in our solar system. The museum’s exhibition hall in Taipei will feature these guided tours during the weekends in August.
During the first half of August, the museum will delve into the legendary story and scientific truths of the meeting of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl stars on Qixi, as well as the annual Perseids meteor shower in August. Visitors will get to explore how this spectacular meteor shower, with up to a hundred shooting stars per hour, is formed and how to best observe it.
For the second half of August, the museum will focus on introducing “non-planetary celestial bodies in the solar system,” allowing visitors to learn about other small members in the solar system besides the eight major planets. There will be five guided tours taking place on weekend mornings at 10 am and 11 am, as well as afternoons at 2 pm, 3 pm, and 4 pm. Visitors can purchase tickets to enter the exhibition hall and participate in these tours at the service desk on the first floor.
In addition, on Saturday evenings from 7 pm to 9 pm, the Taipei Astronomical Museum will open its astronomical telescopes for stargazing. The August themes will include viewing celestial bodies such as the binary stars of the Big Dipper, Albireo, the Moon, and Saturn. On the night of August 10 (Saturday), there will be a special stargazing event for Qixi. Visitors can also observe the sun in the mornings from 10 am to 12 pm and in the afternoons from 2 pm to 4 pm on open days. For more information on stargazing and themed tours, please visit the Taipei Astronomical Museum website.
Meanwhile, the Pingtung County government announced in a press release, “Splendid Perseids Meteor Shower Arrives, Make Wishes at Jiale Water on Qixi Valentine’s Day,” inviting people to the Jiale Water Scenic Area in Manzhou Township from 6 pm to 9 pm on the 10th for the “Pingtung Starry Sky” astronomical event and market fair. County Magistrate Cai Chun-mi welcomes friends from all over Taiwan to stargaze in Pingtung and make wishes under the meteor shower.
Pingtung’s inherent advantages of low light pollution and vast vistas make it a well-known “best stargazing site in Taiwan” in the astronomical community. The active period of this year’s Perseids meteor shower is from July 17 to August 24, with the peak on August 12-13. The public will have the chance to witness a grand spectacle of 100 shooting stars per hour. Therefore, the county government selected the traditional Qixi Valentine’s Day on the lunar calendar to invite lovers to stargaze in Pingtung.
“An assembly of stars not to be missed,” said the Pingtung County Traffic and Tourism Bureau, highlighting that apart from inviting Mandopop singer Dai Xiaojun to perform, there will be a starry music concert for visitors to enjoy. Various domestic astronomical associations and societies will also set up activities such as a family-oriented exploration zone and giant telescope experience area.
Areas like the star photography zone and the star market will offer free admission to enhance understanding of the night sky and engage more people in outdoor activities. Both the Pingtung County Astronomical Association and the Taipei City Astronomical Association remind attendees that the event will follow a low light pollution format. If attendees wish to use flashlights, they should cover them with red paper to avoid affecting the quality of visual experiences and astronomical photography activities.
The Traffic and Tourism Bureau mentioned that attendees at the event that evening will have the chance to witness the sparkling stars in the sky. To provide a more comfortable viewing experience, the county government has set up a limited 300-seat “Meteor Shower Viewing Experience Area.” Registration for this area filled up quickly, emphasizing that registered families or couples should bring their picnic mats to come together and experience the mysteries of the starry sky to celebrate the Qixi Valentine’s Day. For more event information, please visit the official website of the Pingtung County Traffic and Tourism Bureau, the Pingtung GO Fun official Facebook page, and the Pingtung GO Fun app.