The plan
Meteor watching can be an enjoyable social event. The atmosphere is casual, so you can carry on conversations, eat, and record your sightings. You can choose to watch for five minutes or five hours. Obviously, your viewing odds go up the longer you watch.
As I mentioned earlier, no telescope is required, but a few items will make the night more comfortable for you. The most important is a reclining chair. The best plan is to face a region of sky about 30° away from the radiant. For reference, an angle of 30° is one-third the distance from the horizon to the zenith.
Other things you might want to bring are insect repellent, light snacks, and a warm or cold drink, depending on where you’re observing. If your weather is likely to be a bit cold, packing a blanket is a good idea. If you observe at a location with high humidity, a simple plastic tarp will keep you dry all night.
This is the year
If you commit to watching the Perseid meteor shower for more than just a few minutes, it will not disappoint you. The high number of meteors per hour and relatively warm northern nights make this an easy event to view. And this year, the Moon won’t be a problem. In fact, the next time the Moon will be this favorable for Perseid watching is 2025. So, pick a dark observing site, grab some friends, and go see stars fall from the sky.
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