The annual Perseid meteor showers, which seem to radiate from the constellation Perseus, will appear during the pre-dawn hours of August 10-13th. Experts say the best viewing or peak of the shower will be Saturday, August 12th. The Perseid meteor shower is extremely popular with stargazers because, at its peak, one can view as many as 80-100 meteors streaking the sky hourly and in some “outburst” years, up to up to 150-200 meteors an hour. Remember, the bright moon and cloud conditions in your area might obscure the views, but give it a try!
The streaking star debris is named after the mythological Greek hero, Perseus, who killed Medusa and married Andromeda. To view, look towards the north-eastern part of the sky where the constellation Perseus makes its home.
Now a great suggestion for Wildcatters is to host a Star Party! Invite friends and family over for star viewing fun.
FOOD-Serve star-shaped cookies, star fruit, cupcakes and or white chocolate popcorn. Get out that Christmas star-shaped cookie cutter and use it to cut star-shaped watermelon pieces mixed into a fruit salad.
DRINKS-Make a specialty star cocktail using champagne or Prosecco or just serve it straight. Serve Lemonade for the kids.
PLAY-Use those leftover sparklers from the 4th of July, glow-in-the-dark sticks, bubble blowing products, glow-in the dark chalk, light up frisbees and nerf footballs to help the evening pass until viewing time.
ENVIRONMENT-Create a viewing area with lawn chairs, blankets, pillows, and a bowl full of miniature flashlights.
Wildcatter Star Party Playlist
Listen on Spotify here!
- When You Wish Upon a Star-Disney Studio
- Shining Star-Earth, Wind, & Fire
- Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
- Counting Stars-One Republic
- All of the Stars-Ed Sheeran
- We Are ALL Made of Stars-Moby
- Bad Moon Rising-Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Swinging On a Star-Bing Crosby
- A Sky Full of Stars-Coldplay
- Blue Moon-Marcels
- Rocket Man-Elton John
- Stars-Switchfoot
- From Here to the Moon & Back-Dolly Parton
- Starlight-Taylor Swift
- If the Stars Were Mine-Melody Gardot
- Little Star-Chuck Berry
- Unhook the Stars-Cyndi Lauper
- Superstar-Carpenters
- Stars and Planets-Liz Phair
- (They Long to Be) Close to You-Carpenters
- All Night Long-Lionel Richie
- Drops of Jupiter-Train
- Fly Me to the Moon-Tony Bennett
- Lucky Star-Madonna
- Old Yellow Moon-Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
- Lost Stars-Adam Levine
- By the Light of the Silvery Moon-Little Richard
- Stardust – Willie Nelson
- Moondance-Van Morrison
- Catch a Falling Star – Perry Como
- Cosmic Love – Florence+The Machine
- I Wish I Was The Moon – Neko Case
- Neon Moon – Brooks & Dunn
