PERSEID METEOR SHOWER ABOUT ONLY SHOW IN TOWN Final Edition

• Published in: Daily press (Newport News, Va. : Final ed.)
• Main Author: JON BELL Columnist
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newport News, Va Tribune Interactive, LLC 28.07.1991

So what's left? Only Saturn, which rises out of the southeast at sunset. Luckily, it's up for most of the night. At midnight, it's well placed in the southern sky; before sunrise, it's over near the southwest horizon. So even though we've got only one planet to look at this month, it's a good one. The Moon is near Saturn on the night of Aug. 22. Also, this is the month we see the Perseid meteor shower. This should be a great year for this best of all meteor showers. The shower peaks Aug. 12, but from Aug. 9 through Aug. 15 there should also be fairly good displays of these "shooting stars." If it's cloudy, we won't be able to see anything, so hope for clear skies. Begin observing about 10 p.m. or so, facing toward the east and looking halfway up the sky. As the hour grows later, aim your sights higher, until you're looking overhead by midnight. Be sure to choose a very dark location, away from bright lights and traffic. Dress comfortably, use reclining lounge chairs and take insect repellent along. You don't need binoculars or telescopes; with luck, you may be able to see a couple of dozen meteors each hour! Aug. 20 - Moon at apogee, 251,805 mile from Earth. Viking 1 is launched to Mars in 1975. Voyager 2 is launched in 1977 to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.