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.

Where are you located?? I know enough that is what is able to be seen in part of the US isn't as easy to see on the other side.

ManiacQuilter, They should be able to be viewed from anywhere on the Northern Hemisphere. I have a great location in New Hampshire. In Southern California, there is a lot of light pollution. I don't know what the weather is supposed to be like this week out there, but if you are near the wilderness under clear skies, you should be able to see them.

I was so looking forward to vexing it again, however Mr.Weatherman is predicting cloud cover.
We saw it for the first time about 40 years ago in the UP of Michigan. Being from Kansas we had not heard of it and we're sitting on the beach along Lake Superior. Those of you that have the chance ---- enjoy.

Aha! I get the feeling that you are a "quilting astronomer" or an "astronomer quilter"! So now there are at least TWO of us who spend clear dark nights at a telescope and cloudy nights doing applique, FMQ, or piecing. I'm in SoCal but am planning to watch the Perseids in the "wee hours" after moonset when Perseus is near zenith. The H.A. Rey book is truly a treasure and still one of my favorites to refer to at public outreach events.

we plan to be sky watching for the great event

Teri D, My husband actually got me interested in meteor showers. When we were dating many years ago, in the early morning hours, he climbed the weather tower in the town that I lived in so that he could get the best view. The cops called for backup when they discovered him. I thought you'd get a kick out of that story. He and I have watched a few more since those days.

I have a Meade ETX-90EC. Next on my shopping list is a light bucket. I also have Starry Night software, which I love. I'm a total amateur. I just play at it. It is one of my many hobbies. You're probably more in-the-know than me. With astronomy, no matter how much you know, there is always more to learn. Happy skies! Sharon

Thank you for this info. I know nothing about these things but I am up wee hours of the morning so it will be fun to watch & invite my GD down to watch with me.

metor showers
 

starting tonight for the next 5-6 nights, there will be great metor showers. The best viewing is Friday night. There won't be one like this for the next 120 years.

Sewingsew,
Thank you so much for your post. We are ever hopeful that we'll be able to see them here in rural Maine. All of our kids used to love to go out on the boat to star gaze when they were younger.
lots2do

We have so much light pollution here that I really just never bother to try. I can't even remember when was the last time I saw the Milky Way. :(

I can't think of a much better way to watch these than in a boat!

I give it a try every year. The last few have been rainy and so it goes again tonight. I will try tomorrow but it woun't be as plentiful as tonight.

Look up!
peace

I usually get up about that time to go down the hall. If I remember I'll check out the window. Not going outside. too many coyote sightings on people's carports lately. Will just have to try my luck from the window.

When I was a little girl in KS we would play outside until after dark, then we would lay on the lawn and look at the stars. When we moved to the Seattle area in WA in 1962 we introduced it to our neighbors, like watching the clouds go by during the day. My kids weren't really impressed until we went camping in Yosemite and Mount Shasta - there the night sky is so fantastic!!!

I did go out last night at about 3:30. DH was still sleeping so I had to settle for the dock instead of the boat. I started at the door, crept down to the bottom of the stairs, came in to get a flashlight, sat on the deck and then, finally, sat in a reclining deck chair on the dock. It was a bit hazy so they weren't all that bright but I stayed out til I counted 25. It was getting cooler then and the sky was getting a little lighter so I went in.
I might sneak out again tonight if the conditions are right. I think I was the only one out in our stretch of cottages. No one reacted, at least, when I accidentally dropped the flashlight on the dock and said "Shoot" kind of quietly... What fun.
But I agree, the boat is much better. You can lie down on your back and the stars seem so close. :)

I'm a newby stargazer and plan to "gaze" later tonight (actually am tomorrow) here in No. California.
A few years ago my little grandson and I bundled in blankets and quilts and reclined the chaise lounge on the patio to watch a meteor shower and lost count after sixty something. It was wonderful and he was delighted to stay up late!

Should have read this thread earlier! Maybe I'll catch some tonite........