The David Dunlop Observatory is planning to open its grounds for a public night of Perseid meteor shower watching on Friday evening.

The annual celestial light show reaches its peak this year on the mornings of Friday and Saturday for northern stargazers, but astronomers are concerned the glare from the full moon on Saturday could wash out viewing.

The Richmond Hill observatory will only be open if the weather is clear. It will post plans on its website by 4 p.m. Friday. The gates would be open to the public from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Amateur astronomers are advised to bring a blanket or lawn chair and “plenty of bug spray.”

For backyard stargazers, the best time to catch sight of the meteor shower would be just after the moon sets, as the Earth passes through debris from comets sprinkled across the night sky.

In the GTA, the moon sets at 5:07 a.m. Friday and 6:13 a.m. Saturday. The sun rises at 6:18 a.m. Friday and 6:19 a.m. Saturday.

The observatory suggests that neighbourhood schoolyards would offer a good vantage point, since most are not lighted at night. Look toward the horizon and the northeast sky for the constellation Perseus.

Watching Perseid does not require a telescope.