Perseid meteor shower watch party Saturday night

from Polk County Pulse - August 9, 2023

CRSD happenings

By Ethan Nahté

Saturday nights might be the time a lot of people prefer to party, but this Saturday night will be a party that’s out of this world.

With a waning crescent moon that will be illuminated 10%, and a prediction of clear skies and a light breeze with temperatures in the low-to-mid70s up on the mountain for Saturday, the viewing of what many consider the best meteor shower of the year will peak the night of Aug. 12, and Queen Wilhelmina State Park (QWSP) invites you to come watch, learn and have some popcorn.

NASA’s All Sky Fireball Network detected the first Perseid meteor of 2023 on July 26. With several hot days in a row and little to no rain, the skies have been somewhat clear. If you sky watch, have not been around strong light pollution and have looked up, especially to the northeast and the constellation of Perseus, odds are you might have already caught a few glimpses of meteoroids shooting through the night sky at a velocity of 37 miles per second.

They’re caused by Earth passing through the debris of ice and rock left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle. They aren’t actually meteors when they hit the earth’s atmosphere at approximately 133,200 mph. It’s rare that the small pieces make it to the ground, burning up upon entry at over 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the fragments become visible once they are 60 miles or so above the earth’s surface. If a meteor does make it all the way to the surface, it’s called a meteorite.

The earth will pass through the densest and dustiest portion of the comet’s path Aug. 11-12. Comet Swift-Tuttle is the largest known-object to repeatedly pass by earth. Its nucleus is approximately 16 miles across. It last passed earth in 1992, it was too faint to be seen with the naked eye.

Most, if not all of us will be nothing but dust when the comet next passes by in 2126, but by that time, perhaps our children and grandchildren might be still around through the miracles of modern science.

At that time, the comet will be 15 million miles away from earth. In 3044, it might be as close as a million miles, which is the distance to the moon and back. Close by astronomical standards, and it will probably be a beautiful sight, but still not close enough to roast a marshmallow.

A QWSP interpreter will meet stargazers at 8:30 p.m. on the east lawn (back side of the restaurant where the old windmill used to sit for those of you old enough to remember). Ask the front desk in the hotel if you aren’t certain. Attendees can learn a bit about what causes meteor showers and viewing tips, which may include keep the phones down. The glowing screen interferes with your eyes adjusting to the darkness. It might not be a big deal to you, but it might irritate the people around you..

Around 8:45 there will be popcorn at the free educational event. It’s possible during the peak time and with limited-to-no light pollution, 40 or more Perseids can be viewed in the hour just before dawn. Last year’s full moon made it difficult for great viewing.

Of course, you can always do your own thing. There are plenty of overlooks along the Talimena Scenic Drive to watch from. Be forewarned, families tend to start getting parking spots early for events such as a meteor shower or supermoon.