This week the Perseids meteor shower will be at it's height on Thurday, August 12. Most of us have heard of it and maybe even watched it, but I decided to dig a little deeper to understand more about this special natural light show that has been observed for about 2000 years. A meteor shower is defined as an 
increase in the number of meteors at a particular time of year. Most meteor showers are the result of Comets shedding icy, dusty debris as they orbit the Sun, and if the Earth travels through this debris, we see a meteor shower. Where the Earth and stream meet determines the area of the sky from which the meteors appear to fall, sometimes from a nearby constellation. This spot is what astronomers call the radiant and is how the Perseids meteor shower got it's name, meteors appear to fall from a point in the constellation Perseus. The debris stream that causes the meteor shower is called the Perseid cloud and consists of particles ejected by the comet Swift-Tuttle as it moves through its 130 year orbit. Some of the debris in the dust cloud is over 1000 years old but new dust was pulled from the comet in 1862 and the rate of meteors originating from this new stream is much greater than that from the older dust. The Perseids meteor shower is visible from mid-July, but the activity is at its peak between August 9 and 14 when the rate of meteors can reach 60 or more per hour. The night of greatest activity this year is expected to be August 12, with the most activity in the pre-dawn hours.
There are may great spots around the Tahoe-Truckee area to watch the meteor shower, but if you're staying at Olympic Village Inn, our neighbor Squaw Valley USA has a great package with some extras, the Perseid Meteor Shower Campout. You can view the show from the thin atmosphere of High Camp at 8200' as you camp out under the stars. Expect to see colorful fireballs, occasional outbursts and hours of beautifully streaking meteors. It's natures Fourth of July! Ride the Cable Car up and start the evening out with a a sunset hike, if you like, around Squaw Valley’s upper mountain peaks or eat dinner at the mountaintop cafe. Then go to an informational briefing on telescopes, enjoy campfire activities and at 10 pm, the meteor shower viewing begins. In the morning you can enjoy a continental breakfast before descending in the Cable Car. The package includes Professional stargazers on site to answer questions about meteor showers, viewing telescopes, a campsite, High Camp evening activities (ice skating and swimming) and a continental breakfast. Reservations are required for the Perseid Meteor Shower Campout and this event does sell out. For more information and to make reservations please call 1-800-545-4350 and see www.squaw.com/perseid-meteor-shower-mountaintop-campout for more details.
If you'd rather not do an overnight campout, there's another organized event in the area centered around the Perseids meteor shower. Tahoe Adventure Company, who I've talked about before with their kayak tours, has a Star Tours Hike called "Deep Sky Wonders and the Perseid Meteor Shower". It's on August 12 from 7pm to 11pm from Tahoe Vista Regional Park and costs $65. per person. Professional and knowledgeable guides will accompany you to teach you about the wonders of the night sky and answer your questions. One is award winning astronomer Tony Berendsen, who is currently the President of the Northern Nevada Science Coalition and previously was the President of the Astronomical Society of Nevada. Get more details at www.tahoeadventurecompany.com/ourtrips/Custom/startours.
Of course, all you really need to view the meteor shower is a clear view of the night sky away from lights. Luckily, our area has almost infinite possibilities to do this, so if you're not going to attend an organized event, stake out your favorite spot early so you're ready. The weather this week should be perfect for star gazing but typically chilly at night, so bring a sweater or a sweat shirt. The intense thunderstorms we experienced over the weekend should be gone as drier air filters into the area. Temperatures this week will be slightly below normal as a trough of low pressure sits over us, eventually turning into a cutoff low. Temperatures will increase some by the end of the week bringing us back to normal. The Perseids meteor shower serves as a reminder of the beauty and wonder of the night sky and stars. Any night of the year you can step outside your house, look up and let your mind wander the universe. Have a great week!
There are may great spots around the Tahoe-Truckee area to watch the meteor shower, but if you're staying at Olympic Village Inn, our neighbor Squaw Valley USA has a great package with some extras, the Perseid Meteor Shower Campout. You can view the show from the thin atmosphere of High Camp at 8200' as you camp out under the stars. Expect to see colorful fireballs, occasional outbursts and hours of beautifully streaking meteors. It's natures Fourth of July! Ride the Cable Car up and start the evening out with a a sunset hike, if you like, around Squaw Valley’s upper mountain peaks or eat dinner at the mountaintop cafe. Then go to an informational briefing on telescopes, enjoy campfire activities and at 10 pm, the meteor shower viewing begins. In the morning you can enjoy a continental breakfast before descending in the Cable Car. The package includes Professional stargazers on site to answer questions about meteor showers, viewing telescopes, a campsite, High Camp evening activities (ice skating and swimming) and a continental breakfast. Reservations are required for the Perseid Meteor Shower Campout and this event does sell out. For more information and to make reservations please call 1-800-545-4350 and see www.squaw.com/perseid-meteor-shower-mountaintop-campout for more details.
If you'd rather not do an overnight campout, there's another organized event in the area centered around the Perseids meteor shower. Tahoe Adventure Company, who I've talked about before with their kayak tours, has a Star Tours Hike called "Deep Sky Wonders and the Perseid Meteor Shower". It's on August 12 from 7pm to 11pm from Tahoe Vista Regional Park and costs $65. per person. Professional and knowledgeable guides will accompany you to teach you about the wonders of the night sky and answer your questions. One is award winning astronomer Tony Berendsen, who is currently the President of the Northern Nevada Science Coalition and previously was the President of the Astronomical Society of Nevada. Get more details at www.tahoeadventurecompany.com/ourtrips/Custom/startours.
Of course, all you really need to view the meteor shower is a clear view of the night sky away from lights. Luckily, our area has almost infinite possibilities to do this, so if you're not going to attend an organized event, stake out your favorite spot early so you're ready. The weather this week should be perfect for star gazing but typically chilly at night, so bring a sweater or a sweat shirt. The intense thunderstorms we experienced over the weekend should be gone as drier air filters into the area. Temperatures this week will be slightly below normal as a trough of low pressure sits over us, eventually turning into a cutoff low. Temperatures will increase some by the end of the week bringing us back to normal. The Perseids meteor shower serves as a reminder of the beauty and wonder of the night sky and stars. Any night of the year you can step outside your house, look up and let your mind wander the universe. Have a great week!
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