One of the true joys in the great outdoors comes in staring at endless stars on a dark night, away from the light pollution of the city and densely populated areas. Watching for and wishing on shooting stars is a camping tradition that ranks right up there with graham cracker s’mores.
With clear skies this weekend, the number of wishes could outnumber the volume of marshmallows consumed as the annual Perseid meteor shower peaks. Because the moon will be beginning a new phase, it will be just a sliver and only out for a short while after sunset, allowing the rest of the night to be as dark as possible.
A couple of free public events will provide access and information on the meteor shower. The Saturday program at Washington State Park, just south of De Soto on Hwy. 21, is a camping event that requires reservations.
Stargazing at Jefferson College does not require reservations, but ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday.
To sign up for the Washington State Park showcase, call 636-586-5768. Camping will be allowed only allowed in tents, with no stakes. No vehicles will be permitted, and the only campfire will be in a community fire pit.
Check-in for those who have registered will be from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, followed by a program from the park staff about the meteor shower and then viewing. Checkout is at 9 a.m. the next morning.
There is no camping at the Jefferson College event, but participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to set up on the soccer field near the front entrance of the Hillsboro campus.
The stargazing program begins at 8:30 p.m. and is held with the St. Louis Astronomical Society. Telescopes will be set up for viewing Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and other objects in the deep night sky.
The Perseid meteor shower will be visible anywhere, but locations like the college and state park will provide open views with significant darkness away from any city lights.
So what exactly is the Perseid meteor shower and why do we get to see it every year?
Quoting NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke, space.com explains that the Swift-Tuttle comet left a trail of debris and dust as it made its 134-year trip around the sun. Each year the Earth passes through the comet’s remnants and the fragments burn up as they enter the atmosphere in a bright streak of light traveling 37 miles per second.
While the particles are floating in space, they are called meteoroids, and as they interact with the Earth’s atmosphere they are labeled as meteors. If they make it all the way to our planet’s surface without burning up, they are called meteorites, the website says.
Don’t expect many to reach the ground because most pieces are about the size of a grain of sand.
The Earth passes through the comet’s path from about July 17 through Aug. 24, so the particles have been lighting up the sky for a little while now, but the peak is expected in the early morning hours of Aug. 12 when we go flying “through the densest, dustiest area.”
Viewers may expect to see between 60 or 70 meteors per hour, but shouldn't expect them to come and go like clockwork. You may go several minutes without seeing any, and then see a burst of them in the same minute.
The key is to see as much sky as possible and plan to sit for several hours. A comfortable chair, a light blanket or jacket, snacks and beverages are recommended. Insect repellent is a must.
The planned events are weather dependent. Rain and dense cloud cover is obviously not conducive to star viewing.
To check on the status of the show at the state park call the number above; for the college’s event check slasonline.org.
John J. Winkelman is community relations manager at Mercy Hospital Jefferson. If you have news for the Leader’s Outdoor News page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com and you can follow John on Twitter at @johnjwink99.