Thousands flock to Troodos mountains as Perseids light up skies (photos)

Local ScienceTop Newstroodos Thousands flock to Troodos mountains as Perseids light up skies (photos) Img 3944 Relevant News Thousands flock to Troodos mountains as Perseids light up skies (photos) 13 August 2026 Jailed Istanbul mayor Imamoglu joins new opposition party amid political turmoil 13 August 2026 Gaza cancer patients face rising death rate amid Israeli curbs, doctors say 13 August 2026 Christina Karakondylou 13 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Thousands of stargazers braved heavy traffic and winding mountain roads late on Wednesday to witness the annual peak of the Perseid meteor shower from the high peaks of the Troodos range. En.philenews was there, and though it took a considerable amount of time to reach Troodos, we were able to truly admire the meteor shower and capture the starry sky. The Perseids occur annually when Earth passes through the orbital debris stream left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. As tiny dust particles and ice fragments collide with Earth’s upper atmosphere, they incinerate, producing luminous streaks of light, commonly called shooting stars. The phenomenon, an astronomical highlight of the summer, drew unprecedented crowds across key viewing locations, including the Amiantos Astropark, the Troodos Observatory in Agridia, and the Prodromos Reservoir. Bumper-to-bumper traffic was experienced along certain stretches of the mountain routes leading up from Nicosia and Limassol, mainly near organised stargazing events. Traffic congestion reached levels where emergency service access could have been severely compromised at critical bottlenecks, raising significant safety concerns for future high-attendance events in the mountain range. Perhaps, spreading stargazing events and guided viewings across more sites throughout the Troodos range could help disperse visitor density and ease severe traffic bottlenecks during future celestial events that interest the public. Despite lengthy travel delays, though, visitors were rewarded with near-ideal stargazing conditions. Coinciding with a new moon, the night sky over the mountains was pitch-black, offering unobstructed views of the cosmic display. Observers laying on blankets and folding chairs under cool mountain temperatures were able to clearly trace the glowing band of the Milky Way galaxy while scores of bright, fast-moving meteors streaked overhead. Many visitors brought tents and sleeping bags to camp in forested areas, while high concentrations of crowds in picnic areas and designated event spots led to localised light pollution from flashlights and mobile screens, briefly hindering dark-sky visibility. Though from our point of view, away from crowds, screens, and lights, and with our eyes adjusted to the darkness surrounding us, the view was simply breathtaking. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Jailed Istanbul mayor Imamoglu joins new opposition party amid political turmoil Gaza cancer patients face rising death rate amid Israeli curbs, doctors say Iran to join BRICS development bank soon, central bank governor says Taxi smugglers caught trying to dodge SBA customs checks Dozens turn down Public Service jobs despite passing exams On this day: A Japan Air Lines Boeing crashed into Mount Osutaka, killing 520 people in 1985 Things to do on Thursday, August 13 Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.