Catch a falling star with the Perseid Meteor Shower
Andrew Norton
For those of us in Michigan now is the time to catch falling stars during the Perseid Meteor Shower. Unfortunately, the peak meteor activity this mid-August will be interfered with by the full moon tonight and its waning phases the next few nights. I remember laying out on a blanket one summer night as a child and watching the show that the meteors provide. It was literally a fireworks show presented by nature. Instead of booms and whistles the night air was only punctuated by my family's 'oohs' and 'ahhs.'
So, create a memorable family experience and lay out under the stars at least once over the next few days. The show starts to fade around the middle of August which is already next week. Where has the summer gone?
On a side note:
When I was writing this article, the Don McLean song "Starry Starry Night" (its actual title is Vincent, as in Van Gogh) popped into my head. I must admit that I never really listened to the words to this song in detail before. I never knew that it was about Vincent Van Gogh. You can listen to a live performance at Don McLean's website here. Starry Starry Night refers of course to Van Gogh's "Starry Night."