Troodos Observatory opens free Perseid meteor shower nights this week

The Troodos Observatory in Agridia is opening its doors for free public viewings of the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks in the early hours of Thursday . Perseid events are being held at two locations in Troodos. The first took place today, Tuesday 11 August, at the Geopark Visitor Centre in Amiantos, while the action moves to the Troodos Observatory in Agridia on Wednesday 12 August. Entry is free at both events. Petros Hadjikostas, representative of the 10.10 Cosmos – ANET Troodos Observatory consortium that manages the site, told “F” that public interest in stargazing has grown. The observatory will have telescopes set up, alongside guided tours, astronomical activities and organised observation of the phenomenon. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a glass of wine on site, combining stargazing with a summer evening out. He explained that in previous years, many visitors climbed up to the area on their own to watch the Perseids, and the growing turnout led to the organisation of open, free public nights. The rising demand has also led the observatory to expand its programme. Alongside its usual Friday and Saturday night visits, Wednesday and Thursday nights have been added for the whole of August. “We saw that the nights were full of people and there was interest, so we opened two additional nights each week,” Hadjikostas said. The expanded schedule is expected to continue until the end of August, with a possible extension into September under consideration. Around a year after opening, the observatory has seen growing visitor numbers. A significant share of visitors are foreign residents of Cyprus, with Russians and Ukrainians accounting for around 35% of total visitors, according to the operators. Interest also extends to schools, some of which organise night excursions to the site, giving students the chance to explore the night sky and learn more about astronomy. The Perseids are expected to peak on the night of Wednesday 12 August into the early hours of Thursday 13 August, with up to 100 meteors visible per hour under ideal conditions. This year’s timing is considered especially favourable, as the peak coincides with the New Moon, meaning the absence of moonlight should allow for better viewing .