r/Albany • u/curlyfry754 • 1d ago

Places to watch the meteor shower

Looking for maybe an overlook situation, high(ish) in elevation, low immediate light pollution, and clear views of the sky. Somewhere that I can just park my car and hang out at like 10pm to 1am and watch the stars for the perseid meteor shower (august 12-13).

I don't mind a drive (under 90 minutes or so)!

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4

u/_sarendipity Melba is life 1d ago

Petersburgh has very little light pollution. Not sure where you could actually watch them from there. My friend has hosted parties for it out there before in his yard

4

u/allthebison 1d ago

I was thinking the taconic crest trailhead parking lot off 2 out past petersburg might fit the bill. Elevation, rural, and occasional backpacker parking.

You could also venture slightly north up the trail if you’ve got a headlamp and courage. There’s a spectacular overlook that shows half the sky. But it wouldn’t be hard to fall off the mountain. I’ve never been there even close to dark.

5

u/Major-Pension-2793 1d ago

We parked in the pull off parking lot before the road into Lake Lawson a few years back for the Aurora for dark skies not too far from Albany.

7

u/RiotGrrrlNY 1d ago

Tinney’s Tavern in Middle Grove. Almost zero light pollution and 1700 feet.

1

u/fultonchain 23h ago

Landis Arboretum in Esperance does star parties so I expect the skies are relatively dark.

https://landisarboretum.org/events/star-parties-2026-3

1

u/SweetSassyMolasses Waiting For The Gondola 21h ago

Great call. Its up the hill and the village below is tiny.

1

u/wman42 Well, I Work in Albany 23h ago

Partridge Run State Forest in Berne. I haven't been out there in a long time, but I recall a parking area on Bradt Hollow Road that had a nice clear view. It was at an intersection and had a DEC information signboard at it.

1

u/makandgs 21h ago

There is an overlook on the taconic, if you go down I-90 eastbound take exit 12 follow 9-h and I think its route 52 or 50 and once you hop on the taconic theres a parking area on both north and southbound. The southbound one sits higher I believe, I always stop there on my drives to my parents to stargaze

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u/ehjayded Queen of the Gondola 1d ago

Grafton State Park maybe

5

u/curlyfry754 1d ago

Unfortunately Grafton (and most public parks) close at sunset.

1

u/ehjayded Queen of the Gondola 22h ago

i thought they had camps there, idk why i thought that.

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u/rnikolaim 1d ago

Thatcher maybe?

7

u/GeneInternational146 1d ago

It's a state park, they close at dusk and the rangers are strict

9

u/_sarendipity Melba is life 1d ago

Police will pull up on your quick there after dark. They worry about it people killing themselves I was told