Viewing the Night Sky

Viewing the Night Sky

• Location: ISM Dickson Mounds Museum, Lewistown
• Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 6:00 AM - 6:30 AM

Viewing begins at 4:00 a.m.

Dickson Mounds Museum’s next Nature Trek program is “Viewing the Night Sky” on Tuesday morning, August 11, 2015. The public is welcome to view the Perseid Meteor Shower on the Museum’s Observation Deck. Viewing begins at 4:00 am.

Made of tiny space debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle, the Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus. This is because the direction, or radiant, from which the shower seems to come in the sky, lies in the same direction as the constellation Perseus, which can be found in the north-eastern part of the sky.

While the skies light up several times a year by other meteor showers, the Perseids are widely sought after by astronomers and stargazers. This is because at its peak, one can see 60 to a 100 meteors in an hour from a dark place.

Watch as bright meteors zip by in the early morning hours before dawn, a peak time for meteor activity. The darkness over the landscape makes this an ideal location for viewing. Participants may bring a lawn/camping chair or blanket for comfort. Afterwards enjoy light breakfast refreshments and even the sunrise.

This program is free and registration is not required.

The Illinois State Museum - Dickson Mounds is located between Lewistown and Havana off Illinois Routes 78 and 97. The museum is open free to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day. Tours and special programs are available for groups with reservations. For more information call 309.547.3721 or TTY 217.782.9175 or visit the www.experienceDicksonMounds.com. Also check out weekly updates on Facebook at “Illinois State Museum – Dickson Mounds”.