Sounds like the next Magic Treehouse book, doesn't it? I got off work (at Taco Bell, not the school) at 4 a.m. today, which normally sounds pretty awful, however tonight was such a beautiful, warm summer night that I rode with the windows down on the way home just so that I could take in all the summer smells that remind me of childhood camping trips or playing manhunt at friends' houses. Driving down the deserted highway I happened to look up and see a brilliant green meteor streak across the star in the exact direction I was driving. Yes, I raced a meteor home... It was so breathtaking and I swear it slowed down to say a quick hello before racing back into the blackness and on to bigger worlds. After taking a few moments to truly appreciate the experience, I remembered a coworker telling me that tonight was the beginning of an annual meteor shower, best viewed by those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.
Saturday night (please note when I say 'night' I mean 1 to 6 a.m., technically the next morning), Sunday night, and Monday night are three days of 'oohs' and 'aaahhs' as far as our night sky goes! The annual Perseid meteor shower is best viewed on one of these nights (preferably Sunday night/early Monday morning). This shower was named after the Perseus constellation as it appears as though the meteors are coming from this constellation, really just a coincidence, the Earth is actually passing through the remnants of the Swift-Tuttle comet, a normal part of our trajectory. This meteor shower is considered one of the most popular as it is an annual event and is delivers! Depending on which article you read you may see 60, 70, or 100 meteors per hour!
I came home and laid around in various places on our property for an hour and a half enjoying the sheer magnificence of it all; sharing it only with our cat as my family was MIA. That being said, I intend to be prepared for tomorrow night when the shower is supposed to be even better! Tonight was just a trial run ;)
Allow me to share some of the things I learned....
#1: Night Vision Matters
The Perseid shower has some of the best views, however remember that the great majority of the falling stars you see will be very small, if your vision hasn't had about 30 minutes to prepare for the dark, your eyes are actually unable to see many of these smaller meteors! Even just glancing at a digital screen or light can force you to begin readjusting again. Leave your electronics inside and turn off outdoor lights on your house. Trust me, it is super tempting to google info about the shower on your smart phone, but you may be missing some awesome views!
#2: Location, Location, Location!
Choose where you want to set up your chairs and whatnot during the day. This minimizes the chances that you'll be sitting in an ant bed and maximizes your chances of finding the perfect spot. You want to have a clear view of the Northeast (specifically of the Perseus constellation, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out where that was!) with little obstruction from lights, trees, and buildings. If possible make sure you can see as much of the sky as possible as I also saw many falling stars in the North, East, Southeast, and directly above me.
#3: Bugs, Bugs, Go Away
Luckily I keep a bottle of bugspray in my car for emergencies (Is this only a Florida thing?) so I wasn't eaten alive, however if you don't already have something on hand make sure you pick up a cheap bottle today. Avoid tiki torches and Citronella candles though as these will destroy that precious night vision. Dress appropriately too, closed toed shoes, pants, even a long sleeve shirt if you're often bothered by mosquitoes.
#4: Entertain Yourself
Let's face it, there's going to be down time. If you know you'll become easily distracted or if you have kids go ahead and plan for this in advance. Research constellations and where to look for them in your area then, try to find them while you're watching the sky. Also consider researching local nocturnal critters and the sounds they make. It can be fun to identify the noises you're hearing, plus if you're worried your child may become frightened by the sounds, you can easily identify them and provide fun facts about the harmless animal that's making them. For example, we have some weird sounding frogs in our area, but they really are just frogs; we're also used to hearing the horses stomping around at night to keep the bugs at bay.
#5: Timing is Everything
The meteors can best be viewed between midnight and daybreak. Specifically, you want to make sure you go out after the Moon sets as the Moon's glare can obstruct your view. They are also supposed to be brilliant just before daybreak so it waking up in the middle of the night isn't your thing, consider getting up earlier than normal to go to work, school, etc. Also keep in mind the importance of keeping your eyes peeled, the falling stars from the Perseid shower are known for being particularly fast so you'll need a keen eye!
#6: Comfort Matters
Laying on a blanket sounds nice, but remember the dew has probably already fallen which means you'll need a really thick quilt or you'll have a really wet bottom! A lounge chair is the most comfortable option, and you will want something tall enough to support your head, your neck will tire after a while!
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| Is a handmade, monogrammed neck pillow really necessary? Probably not, but it sure is lovely :) Choose a nice fleece and create something simple by freehand, or get more intricate with this awesome tutorial for a patchwork pillow! |
#7: Enjoy Yourself
Seriously, really make this a great time to enjoy the peacefulness of night and the wonder of nature. Don't fiddle around with your camera trying to take pictures (it will never work, just give up now, lol) or stress yourself out about things that are happening in the future. Drag yourself and your loved ones out of bed, make your favorite hot chocolate, coffee, tea, or lemonade, and take the time to cherish the moment and later the memory, you'll thank yourself!
Happy viewing!
