Get ready for the Perseid meteors!

The Perseids are coming! The Perseids are coming!

For sky watchers in North America, the watch begins after nightfall on August 11th and continues until sunrise on the 12th. Veteran observers suggest the following strategy: Unfold a blanket on a flat patch of ground. (Note: The middle of your street is not a good choice.) Lie down and look up. Perseids can appear in any part of the sky, their tails all pointing back to the shower’s radiant in the constellation Perseus. Get away from city lights if you can.

A slightly gibbous moon will cause some light pollution, but here in Vermont that’s not as big a problem as clouds. The forecast calls for rain on the best night — the night of the 11th — but the following night might be clear and the meteors will still be streaking in, just not as frequently.