Fun in the Night Sky

Last night was one of the evenings for viewing the Perseid meteor showers, something we have watched numerous times over the years with our children and grandchildren. There were no kids at home, so my husband and I decided that they would still be fun to watch, especially since this year there is a new moon and the sky is darker than usual. Also, the stormclouds from the last week had dissipated leaving a clear sky.

We headed north of town, away from the brightest city lights, just off the Carefree Highway and enjoyed watching the "stars fall". We saw a total of 15, several of them large and going for long distances, before heading home at about 1:30 this morning. It was delightful.

If you'd like to share these with children, they will be visible again tonight, after midnight, in the northeast area of the sky, toward the horizon. (They appear in the area of the constellation, Perseus.) The best viewing times, I've read, are closer to 4:00 a.m., when they say you can see many more than our 15. They should be visible, to some extent, through Wednesday, August 15th. Such an occasional late-night adventure can be fun for children of most ages. Take chairs, water and a flashlight. Enjoy.