Southern Harmony Songwriter Brian Blake

Peep the Perseids at their Peak

By Jason Frye | Photography courtesy of Mark Taylor

August brings meteors, fireballs, and more to the night sky — and a new moon might make it all the more special this year.

When I was 17 or so, my dad and I were hunting, making that pre-dawn hike into the woods to settle into our spots for daybreak. We were walking an old logging road up a ridge when we stopped to rest and take a drink. In that moment of silence — a canteen going back and forth between us — a meteor streaked across the sky, a bright, green blaze that shone then winked out, gone as suddenly as it appeared. It wasn’t an omen for the day’s hunt (I don’t recall if we did or didn’t leave with a deer) or a portent for things to come, it was just a meteor, just a moment that lives in my memory. Where I grew up was, by most standards, rural. Seeing the Milky Way was a nightly occurrence. We’d watch comets through binoculars or a cheap PTA fundraiser prize telescope. Our ears would perk up when the weatherman on WSAZ would tell us of an upcoming meteor shower. And the Perseid Meteor Shower became one of my favorites to watch. The Perseid Meteor Shower takes place from mid-July to mid-August every year. That’s when earth passes through the cosmic dust and detritus and pieces from Comet Swift-Tuttle’s tail and we are bombarded with meteors. How many? This year, 100-150 meteors per hour are expected during the peak from Aug. 11-13. With a new moon just a few days before, those nights will be dark and if the weather’s right, the stargazing will be fabulous. Expect to see meteors, fireballs, and maybe even the rare Earthgrazer. Meteors — tiny bits of comet that burn when they enter the atmosphere — are most common. Fireballs — think of slower, slightly larger meteors, but with a bright flare as they break up during their fall – are more rare, but if you watch long enough you’ll see one or two. Earthgrazers are the most rare. These long, slow-moving, and very colorful meteors travel horizontally across the sky, appearing to graze the earth, and are visible for more than an eye-blink or two. Originating in the northeastern sky in the constellation Perseus, this meteor shower has long been among the most popular for U.S. stargazers to watch. With the kids out of school, warm summer nights, and generally clear conditions, it’s timing for us to gaze to the heavens and be amazed.

We — humans, not Americans — have been noting the Perseid Meteor Shower for centuries, and early Catholics tied the meteor shower to the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence (the meteors are reminiscent of the sparks and embers when he was burned for his faith in 258 AD), but it was 1835 when an astronomer pinpointed Perseus as the origin point, and 1862 when another astronomer tied the meteors to a passing comet. If you’re hoping to see Comet Swift-Tuttle, however, you’re in for a wait: it doesn’t reappear until 2126 when the meteor shower will be epic, to say the least. You don’t need any special equipment to view the Perseid Meteor Shower, all you need is a blanket or a chair where you can comfortably recline, a dark sky, and a little time to watch. Across the South there are places where the sky stays dark and light pollution stays away and you can see the stars with the naked eye. At Earthsky.org/stargazing, you’ll find an interactive map of places around the world showing great stargazing spots, just zoom in on your region and find a spot.

Tips for Viewing • Find a dark, wide-open place to watch. A field or mountaintop will work best, but really you need to get away from light pollution — streetlights, house lights, highways, your smartphone, moonlight — and gaze into that big, open sky. • Watch for at least an hour. It takes a while for your eyes to adjust and get used to spotting and tracking meteors. This shower also comes in waves and spurts, so if you go out for a quick 15-minute stargazing session, you might miss something good.

• Know that the Perseids originate from one spot: the constellation Perseus in the northeastern sky just above the horizon. When you see one, backtrack it to a likely origin point and wait. The next few meteors will help you hone in on the place in the sky where they’re the thickest. • Get comfy. It’ll take a while to get your eyes adjusted to the dark and to settle into watching the meteor shower, so spread out a blanket or hop in your reclining lawn chair, get cozy, bring something to sip, and don’t forget the bug spray. Then just sit back and enjoy. • Be patient. This is nature, not a ticketed event. You might watch for 30 minutes and only see a few, but the next 30 minutes will be jam-packed with meteors. So, exercise a little patience, enjoy the night and company, and prepare to be amazed.

Other Space Events in August • Aug. 1: International Space Station (ISS) resupply mission. Launches from NASA’s Wallop Flight Facility, Wallop Island, Va. • Aug. 2: Saturn appears the biggest and brightest it will be all year. • Aug. 8: New Moon. • Aug. 11-13: Peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower (moon is only 13 percent full then, so the sky will be quite dark). • Aug. 18: Space X launches an ISS resupply rocket from Kennedy Space Center.

Jason Frye writes about the South from his home on the coast of North Carolina. His newest book, “Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip,” is out now. Follow his travel and dining adventures on Instagram where he’s @beardedwriter.

Verses for a Veteran

By Kevin Wierzbicki Photography Credits: Brian in studio courtesy of Farmhouse Studio. All others photography by Aaron Brame

Nesbit, Mississippi songwriter Brian Blake nabs top awards for his moving tribute to a World War II veteran.

Sing and the world sings with you. Write a song, on the other hand, and the world may offer more than just harmonizing voices. Memphis-based songwriter Brian Blake knows all about that; his recently-penned “Move on J.D.” earned top honors from the folks at the Memphis Songwriters Association. “In April I won the Memphis Songwriters Association’s Song and Songwriter of the Year during their annual songwriter competition,” Blake says. “I’m honored that the judges thought it worthy of being named top song. Just to be named a finalist, along with some of Memphis’ best songwriters, was quite special. And to actually win is something I’ll cherish forever. I’m so grateful to the MSA for helping me share this song and J.D.’s story with others.” While the accolades for “Move on J.D.” are reason to celebrate, the song itself is a real tug at the heartstrings. “J.D. Lowe was a sometimes-homeless World War II veteran in my family’s hometown of Liberty, Texas, and he was permanently disabled during the war,” Blake says. “I remember J.D. being around town when I was a kid, and though I didn’t know him I read comments in a Liberty-focused Facebook group from people that did, and also got some information about him from friends back home. From those stories, you could gather that J.D. was quite a real-life character. “The song is about his post-war life as a homeless man in a small town where he is kind of always being told to ‘move