The Shower Starparty

By John Reed

My entire family rolled up just before dark.  It was clear, the sky a little hazy, but without any threatening clouds.  The first thing I noticed was that there was very little parking left.  It was definitely one of the best turn-outs we had ever had!  Almost no one brought telescopes, so it was also one of the most unusual starparties we had ever had.  Lawn chairs were scattered across the observing area, a boom box played soft classical music somewhere.

As it grew dark everyone settled in and kept a sharp eye on the sky above.  It wasn't long before a bright Perseid streaked across the sky.  A small cheer erupted.  The radiant was still low in the northeast, but many of the meteors streaked over head, sometimes even behind our heads in the west.  We all relaxed in our chairs, talking quietly, watching the show.  My family was taking it easy on a couch in the back of my brother-in-law's pickup!  Ed.  Note: that's right a real couch.  Why we had it in the back of my brother-in-law's truck is another story!

As the evening progressed, we viewed about 60 meteors per hour, many of them brighter than the brightest stars.  Several satel-lites crossed the sky.  The observers remarked that they couldn't believe how many there were.  I just goes to show how much there is to see when one is really looking!

Thomas Baskins had his camera set up, hoping to catch one on a time exposure.  When a bright meteor flashed across the area he was shooting he got so excited that he fell out of his recliner, sending the entire group into gales of laughter.  Laughter or not he got the shot, something any astrophotographer will tell you is not easy to do.

Toward midnight the shower seemed to slack off somewhat and several began to leave.  As we were packing up a fast short meteor shot across the sky, ending its trip prematurely in a bright flash.  It was a "bolide", an exploding meteor.

Michal took role call because of the large turn out.  The following members and visitors were present: Phillip & Becky McMath, Hyatt Lee, Chuck & Patti Golden, Mark Habenicht, Jane Jackson, Bill Toland, Martin Jackson, Florence Caputo, Joe Mehan, Tresia Night, Ronald Long, Sandra Webb, William & Patsy Ford, Sherman & Delinda Smith, Lela Vaught, Jim Buchner, Jim & Anne Sullivan, Bill Frankie, Bob Clark, Shelly Jones, David Reynolds, Michal Berrington, Randy Stroud, Chris Lasley, Beth Nolte, Thomas Baskins, Dean Williams, Brian Mitchell, John, Carol, Taylor & Chelsea Reed, Austin Smith, and Dale Hicks.  All in all, it was a great evening.   No one left disapointed.