Let's Go Meteor Watching

It is meteor time again!  The Perseid meteor shower has started and will peak around August 10th through the 13th.  In fact, people up posting pictures of meteors from the Perseid presently.  I will be at the Stone Barn of the Allens Pond Audubon Sanctuary in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, starting at 10:30 PM, August 11-12 until the wee hours of the morning, August 12-13.  The predictions are for a large number of fireballs.  Everyone is welcome, but please sign up on the Allens Pond site https://www.massaudubon.org/catalog/listing.php?program_code=AP28330.  Noticed I changed the dates to the Sunday night through Tuesday night.  The event is free, there will be hot drinks and snacks.  Dress comfortably, bring a chair and bug spray.

For those people who want to photograph the meteor showers, they will need to bring a camera with a wide-angle lens, fully charged battery, and a spare, cable release or intervolometer, a sturdy tripod and prepared to have fun.

The radiant point for the Perseids is in the Northeast in between the constellations of Perseus and Cassiopeia.  However, the meteors will appear all over a dark sky.  Earlier in the evening after dusk in the West, the waxing crescent moon, and Venus plus satin will be in the sky.  The meteors will pick up a number after Saturn sets in the late evening.

Also, for the next few days, August 5-7, if you look toward the East and overhead and are in a dark area, the Milky Way is visible.  You also may see meteors from the Delta Aquarid meteor shower, and the Perseids.