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[SpaceCommander]

The Perseid meteor shower peaks on Aug 10, 11, & 12. Is anyone out there planning group or individual observing?
Calumet Astronomical Society will be at Deep River Water Park on US 30 in Hobart, IN on the 11th & 12th.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Hi Chris,

We haven't started discussion on Perseid observing planning yet, but perhaps the Indiana site is an option to consider.

Thanks for the reminder, and as the date approaches, I'm sure we will be planning an activity.

[Al Degutis]

admin said:

Hi Chris,

We haven't started discussion on Perseid observing planning yet, but perhaps the Indiana site is an option to consider.

Thanks for the reminder, and as the date approaches, I'm sure we will be planning an activity.

By "as the date approaches" I conclude that you mean the shower's peak since the shower is already active.

I did two meteor observing sessions, full report to be posted later, one on Saturday morning at 2:00 AM CDT and again this morning at 3:15 AM CDT. Zero Perseids out of the 16 spotted on Saturday but I observed 4 Perseids out of the 9 meteors this morning.

As for location, those in the Northwestern suburbs are welcome to join me for the peak in Woodstock, IL.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Linda and others are organizing an Indiana Beach park observation session for the shower. I don't know all the details, but perhaps she can post it here.

I have never been there, should be a great experiance.

[Ab]

Hi we are planning to observe it from Indiana dunes . We could not get camping sites in dunes camping ground - so will be at Jelly stone - 8 of us
Arvind

[Mare]

Hello. I'm looking for a good location for my family to view the shower on the 11/12th. We're in Darien, Illinois but due to light pollution are looking for suggestions on viewing sights/gatherings near us in the west/southwest suburbs. Any one have any suggestions? Thanks. --Mare

[Michael Uccetta]

Northwest Suburb, where to go?

Again, like many others. Trying to escape the city lights. The 12th is my birthday so I'm excited to ring in another year with the peak of a meteor shower. I'm in the northwest suburbs and looking for a direction to travel, I see one member above is heading to woodstock, is that far enough away? Or should I head north or farther northeast? If you want to contact me, feel free at [e-mail]

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Mare and Micheal,

Thank you for inquiring at the Chicago Astronomer for Perseid Meteor shower observation locales.

It seems like the 2005 shower event has the great likelihood of being clouded over for the Chicago area. As part of the Adler Planetarium crew, we planned to make a trek to the Lake Geneva Wisconsin area to view the Perseid's, but even that may not be fortuitous. Although the peak will occur on the 11th/12th of August, you may catch good meteors days before and after the peak.

But...

I have caught great meteors right smack in the heart of the City, and it's rather more exciting to have actually witnessed a fireball or boilde thru the muck of Chicago's orange haze. Any suburban locale has the slighter advantage of better skies anytime.

Anywhere away from large metropolitan skies will bring out the fainter meteor streaks, but don't let your less than favorable locations dissuade you from catching them from the comfort and convenience of your own back yard. The mere effort of using the surrounding obstacles to block streetlights and invasive lighting darkens the sky considerably, and allows the eye to adapt to a darker environment, becoming more sensitive...and ergo...more meteors. Use a red light to get around in order to maintain your dark adapted vision and try not to look directly into bright light sources.

It's amazing on how the heavens fight back and keeps showing us all, small snippets of celestial wonders, despite what the ignorance of man's progress throws at it.

I hope the weather clears, and if you catch any...let us know of your experience.