Summer Twilight and Meteors

One of the many things I enjoy about late summer and early fall is the nice weather and slightly earlier sunsets, which allows me to watch the sky darken. My current fascination is going out around 9:00 pm and listening for the last bird to sing (usually, but not always a cardinal), watching the lightning bugs come out, and watching the first stars appear (Arcturus and Vega). These three events usually happen within minutes of each other, if not simultaneously. Similarly, in the mornings I like to listen for the first bird to sing (again many times a cardinal) and watch the stars fade from view. Right now, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are in the eastern and southern skies and make a fine show as their brightness outlasts the stars as the sky lightens.

As I write this, we are in the time of the Perseid meteor shower. From late July to late August, this meteor shower takes place with the peak being the night of August 12 through 13 when the rate of meteor streaks can reach 100 per hour. The best time to see meteors is when you have a view of the eastern sky after midnight with no Moon visible. However, since meteor streaks can occur any time after dark, sitting and watching the clear, night sky can be a very meditative activity since you must focus and keep your eyes and mind on the sky.  Over the next month if you have time to stay up after dark, get a blanket to go out and lay down and watch the sky (a lawn chair will work too). As you watch the sky, remember to listen to the sounds of wildlife at night since you may also find beauty there.