Perseid Shower with the NAA

Location: Afton Forest Preserve.

The Perseid Meteor Shower generally provides the best display of “shooting stars” visible during the warmer months of the year. But many of the meteors are relatively faint, and might not be visible in the light-polluted skies of suburbia. This year, besides taking part in the public stargazing event at Cantigny Park, Winfield on the night of the 12th, we are also offering our public friends the option to join us under darker skies, out in DeKalb County at Afton Forest Preserve. Here are the details:

• This session is focused on watching for “shooting stars”; we won’t be providing telescopes for other viewing. (You don’t see many meteors while looking down into a telescope.)
• Please come early. The sun will set around 8:00pm, and it will be dark enough to be seeing meteors pretty well by 9:00pm. Please try to arrive during the 8-8:30 twilight window, so we don’t have headlights and coming & going disturbing the session.
• We’ll be setting up on the lawn area to the west of the main parking lot. If you might be leaving early (before midnight), please park with your headlights facing away from the observing field, so your exiting headlights don’t disturb fellow observers.
• Bring what you’ll need to be able to lie back comfortably and stare upward. (That’s all meteor observing requires!) A blanket, air mattress, or reclining chair can serve well.
• Bring mosquito repellent, and you might also be more comfortable with long pants and sleeves (rather than T-shirt & shorts).
• There are restroom facilities at the Preserve, but bringing something to drink is a good idea. (No alcohol is allowed in the Preserve).
• Bring warmer clothes to layer on. Even a hot summer day can morph into a cool night.
• Families are more than welcome, but please keep kids close to you in the dark.
• Using lights (flashlights, lanterns, video screens, etc.) is discouraged. If you need to bring a light, red is the best color (try putting a red balloon over a flashlight), and keep it pointed down to the ground. We want to get (and keep) our eyes “dark adapted”!

This event is open to the public and free of charge.