Las Lágrimas de San Lorenzo 2023  

Lluvia de Meteoros Perseidas

Perseid meteor shower Spain

Where to see in Barcelona Spain

Dates:
Nights of 11th August, 12th and 13th August every year

Information:
Perseid meteor shower. Shooting stars. Llàgrimes de Sant Llorenç - Pluja d'Estels.

Where to see the 'Tears of Saint Lorenzo' Perseid meteor shower of shooting stars near Barcelona, Spain.

The shooting stars can be seen best in 2023 near Barcelona on nights of 11th  to 13th August from 22:00 / 10pm and until 5am with around 60 shooting stars a minute. 

During 11th to 13th in Barcelona there is a waxing gibbous moon which means the moon will be quite full, so the darkest time of night is after the moon sets

In Barcelona the waxing moons sets around 3am from 11th to 13th so the best time to see shooting stars is 3am to 5am just before dawn

Check the Barcelona province weather to be sure of clear skies.

What is Perseid meteor shower?

The Perseids meteor shower is a meteor shower of shooting stars which comes from debris left by a comet called Comet Swift-Tuttle.

This comet is the largest object known to make repeated passes near the Earth. In Spain the Perseid meteor shower is called Lluvia de Meteoros Perseidas and is nicknamed Las Lágrimas de San Lorenzo 

When to see the Perseid meteor shower in Spain?

You can see the Perseid shooting stars on the nights of the 11th to 12th and the 12th to 13th August every year in Spain, and around the world.

Why is it called Lágrimas de San Lorenzo in Spain?

In Spain the nickname for las Perseidas is 'las Lágrimas de San Lorenzo' which translates as the 'Tears of San Lorenzo' or 'Tears of St. Lawrence.'

In the Catalan language they are called 'Llàgrimes de Sant Llorenç.'

This nickname arose because the Perseid shooting stars dates are close to the feast day of Saint Lawrence, which is on 10th August.

It is possible see the Perseids shooting stars all August, but the nights of the 12th and 13th August are considered the optimal dates because those dates have the maximum concentration of shooting  stars.

Can you see shooting stars in Barcelona?

No. It is impossible to see 'las Lágrimas de San Lorenzo' from a location in the city of Barcelona because of the heavy city light pollution.

To see shooting stars near Barcelona you must find a 'dark sky' place in the countryside outside the city and preferably away from local towns and villages.

Then if there are no clouds after midnight on the dates 11th to 13th August, there is a good chance that you will see shooting stars in the night sky.

You can be lucky and see 60 to 100 shooting stars an hour at peak times if the sky is clear. Even though it is referred to as a 'shower' you usually only see shootings stars one at a time, so don't expect to see the whole sky raining with stars.
 

What is best way to see shooting stars?

The best way to see the stars lie on your back - in a deckchair or sunbed or on a blanket - in a dark place and then scan the sky without using a telescope or binoculars - just with your eyes.

Keep all lights like torches or car headlamps turned off to let your eye accustom themselves to the dark so you have maximum night vision.

Be patient. It takes a while before you see one and if you are with others, they might see a few before you spot one.

The shooting stars can go in different directions and be anywhere in your field of vision, but if you are patient then you will see one for sure. Take an extra sweater and a blanket to lie on - or a foldable beach chair or sunbed - if you are heading inland.

The temperature in Spain in August is usually not below 20 degrees Celcius at night, but it can feel chilly if you are inland and on a field or hilltop.

Astronomy groups in Catalonia:

Dark-sky area Albanyà near Girona in Bassagoda park
AstroGirona 1 hour from Barcelona in Caldes de Malavella and 1.5 hours from Barcelona in Palamos 
Astrobanyoles 1.5 hours from Barcelona in Banyoles,
AstroSeu 2,5 hours from Barcelona in La Seu d'Urgell  
Parc Astronomical Montsec 2 hours from Barcelona in Ager near Lleida 
Observatori Astronomic de Castelltallat 1 hour from Barcelona in Sant Mateu de Bages 
Observatori de Pujalt 1.5 hours from Barcelona in Pujalt

Related pages:

Article LaVanguardia 2018 (Spanish)
Shooting stars, meteors showers - how to see them

Best Astronomy and night sky apps

Skyview app
Stargazr app

Barcelona events calendar

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