Summer Milky Way/Perseid Meteor Shower Star Party

Meteor showers get coverage in the popular press, and astronomy groups invariably get requests from the public about how to view them. But there are challenges. First, you need a dark, open sky. That requires at least some travel for most people, and then you need no moon. Finally, you need to be prepared to stay up late or get up early, as most showers don’t really get going until near midnight. But this year the Perseids are on an evening with a first-quarter moon, which will provide engaging telescopic views before setting just as it gets dark enough to take in the Summer Milky Way, at its best; together these provide a provocative prelude to the meteor shower.

So, the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society has stepped up to the challenge this year, hosting a public event at Lake Sylvia, just 40 minutes out on Highway 10 from Little Rock. To be so close to urbanity, LS has an amazingly dark sky open over the peninsula in the lake. It also has camping and a few cabins, a plus for those willing to push observing into the AM hours.

Programming will begin in Ogden Hall at 7:30 and cover observing the Summer Milky Way, as well as the meteor shower. Transitioning to the observing site will occur in time to catch telescopic views of the first-quarter moon, while Venus will also decorate the celestial stage. As the moon drops, there will be a constellation tour to welcome the Summer Milky Way onto center stage, bringing a whole new suite of telescopic and binocular objects to view.

The event is worth attending just for the foregoing, but around eleven, meteor counts should start to rise as Perseus rises higher in the northeastern sky, and telescope views will end. Portable chairs, blankets, sleeping bags, and bug spray are recommended. As usual, no white flashlights, please.

How long have you wanted to experience a meteor shower? See you there.