Sunrise Sunset

Fri., August 7 5:41 7:52

Sat., August 8 5:42 7:51

Sun., August 9 5:43 7:50

Mon., August 10 5:44 7:48

Tues., August 11 5:45 7:47

Wed., August 12 5:46 7:46

Thurs., August 13 5:47 7:44

Fri., August 14 5:48 7:43

The Perseid meteor shower, a favorite astronomical event of the summer, will take place on the evenings of August 11 through 13. Pick your night. Unfortunately, a gibbous moon will dominate the early morning sky. Whenever the moon shows up, meteors become less visible.

Look in the late evening, toward the northeastern sky. While the best time to look is after midnight, meteors can appear at any moment, at any hour. The Perseid meteor shower has been watched for centuries. Early astronomers used to think that the “falling stars” came from the constellation Perseus, hence the name. The meteors only appear to radiate from the constellation; they are very much a part of this solar system.

In modern day astronomy, it is understood that meteors are of tiny debris, rarely bigger than a dime, entering the earth’s atmosphere at high speed. The particles burn up as they enter the atmosphere. The debris originates from the orbital trail of a periodic comet, named Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.

This columnist has enjoyed watching meteor showers for years. The best approach is to find a comfortable beach chair that folds all the way down so one can look up into the stars. Get a nice hot thermos full of hot cocoa or some other nourishment, take a seat and enjoy the evening. Bug repellant may be needed. Comfort is a key ingredient to enjoying a meteor shower.

M.A.L.