Perseid Meteor Shower 2016 - Under the Perseids

Perseid Meteor Shower 2016 - Under the Perseids

Where:
Frosty Drew Observatory & Sky Theatre
When:
August 11 & 12, 2016 Dusk - Dawn
Cost:
Free! $1 suggested donation per person

The early morning of August 12th and 13th, 2016 will bring the Perseid meteor shower peak to the skies over Frosty Drew, blazing the starscape with up to 100+ meteors per hour. The Perseids are considered by many to be the best meteor shower of the year and this year is no exception. Perseids will start appearing more frequently just after midnight, though the bright gibbous Moon will obscure all but the brightest meteors at first. After the moon sets at shortly after midnight the shower will really take off, with the peak occurring in the early morning hours of August 12th and 13th just before dawn.

Join Frosty Drew astronomers at the Observatory on Thursday August 11 and Friday August 12, 2016, weather permitting, to witness this spectacular event.

On Thursday night, we will open after sunset to observe the meteor shower. In the Observatory, telescopes will showcase Saturn and the Moon until 11:00 p.m. after which we will step outside to watch meteors streak by.

On Friday night, we will open the Observatory and Sky Theatre at 7:30 p.m. with our regular Stargazing Night event. In the Observatory, telescopes will showcase the night sky starting at sunset and continuing until 11:00 p.m. with views of Saturn, Mars, the Moon, binary stars, and more. After 11:00 we will all make our way outside to view the spectacular meteor shower. We may have portable telescopes available throughout the night with some great views of deep sky objects. The Sky Theatre will remain open all night with videos and showcases of celestial objects we have photographed at Frosty Drew Observatory.

Bring your friends and family. Break out your lawn chairs and blankets, *binoculars, and telescopes. Sit under the beautifully clear dark skies of Charlestown, Rhode Island and have a night out on the Perseids!

Take a minute to read up on visiting the Frosty Drew Observatory and catch up on what to / not to bring and how to adequately prepare for a comfortable nigh of meteor watching.

See you under Perseid skies!

*Binoculars and telescopes are welcome but are not needed to view the meteor shower. This event is a weather dependent event. Cloudy skies, fog, and / or rain will cancel this event.