A Fun Activity
If you are looking for a fun and free activity to share with someone, consider staying awake during the wee hours of the morning for the Perseids meteor showers. This would be a great time to have a party, or invite the grandkids over to pull and all-nighter. The Perseids meteor showers can be seen between August 11 and August 13, but will peak on Thursday night. They are best viewed after the moon sets, when the sky is darkest. The moon phase is at 58% on Thursday night, and 67% on Friday. Between 1am and 5am is the best time to view them. They emanate from the constellation Perseus (from Greek mythology), in the northeast sky, and they are so named Perseids for this reason. The Perseids meteors are very fast and about 30 percent will have a lingering trail. After 12am, they will shoot sideways across the sky. Typically, there are about 80 an hour, but an outburst may occur, more than doubling the rate to 200 per hour. These will be the best meteor showers of the year. They are usually second to Geminids, which happen in December. This year there will be a full moon during the December Geminids showers, making the sky bright and the meteors more difficult to see.
If you are interested in watching meteor showers, be mindful of light pollution. Find a dark area with clear skies, and give your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the dark. Somewhere in the country is your best choice.
H. A. Rey wrote "Curious George" books. He also wrote, "The Stars: A New Way to See Them," and also, "Find the Constellations." I would recommend these to anyone who has a special child in their life. If you have an interest in learning constellations, I would recommend them for adults as well. They are written in an elementary way that is easy to learn and they are great books for Grandparents to share with their grandchildren.