Catch the Perseid Meteor Shower this weekend at the George Observatory!


August 6, 2013
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We’re hosting late-night this weekend.

On Saturday, August 10, the George Observatory will be staying open until the wee ours of 2 a.m. in order to proffer the best possible viewing of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower.

Each year in mid-August, a stream of debris ejected by the Swift-Tuttle comet, called the Perseid cloud, becomes visible to stargazers as a meteor shower.

Night at the ObservatoryPhoto courtesy of Sergio Garcia Rill Photography

These “shooting stars” are actually streaks of light that occur when tiny dust particles in the comet’s debris trail collide with and are vaporized by the Earth’s atmosphere.

Want to know more about the science behind meteor showers? Check out this great video from space.com

Normal park entrance fees ($7 per person; free for children 12 and younger) apply.

As always, personal telescopes are welcome! The shower is also visible to the naked eye. Lawn chairs, bug spray, snacks and blankets are encouraged.

Authored By Caroline Gallay

Caroline was the Digital Media Editor at HMNS from 2012 to 2013. She was responsible for telling the Museum’s story online. You could find Caroline on the site profiling characters around the museum and making sure you knew what the what was going on around this crazy/awesome place.


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