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What is more romantic than sitting together watching the stars with a thermos of hot chocolate? This year, surprise your special someone with an invitation to watch the Perseids, a spectacular summer meteor shower.
Meteor showers happen when the earth moves through debris left in our orbit by a comet. The pieces, in many cases just specks of dust, burn up in our atmosphere leaving long glowing trails. The activity typically lasts for more than one day, although each shower has at least one "peak" moment when the number of shooting stars per hour is expected to be at its highest.
Showers are typically named for the constellation from which the meteors seem to originate. The Perseids appearing to radiate from Perseus, a collection of stars named for a mythical hero. The shower happens every August and is one of the most pleasant to watch because of the relative warmth of summer nights.
The Perseids will be visible from July 23rd through August 22nd this year, with the best viewing occurring early on August 12th. Try to plan your night as close as possible to the new moon (August 8th) to insure the darkest sky possible.
It is generally best to watch for meteors after midnight. At this time your patch of Earth is facing the direction in which the meteors are coming. You don't have to stay up all night to enjoy the show. Try going to bed early and waking up at 2am or 3am, that way you'll have had at least some sleep and hopefully won't nod off into your hot chocolate.
It's tempting to watch from your own backyard, but unless you live far from city lights you probably want to find someplace darker. It's a good idea to scout out locations beforehand so the night isn't spent driving around instead of watching shooting stars. See if you can find a park or open field that is relatively isolated from street and house lights. You might even choose to combine the shower with a camping trip.
Once you've picked a date and time to watch, plan what you'll bring. At the minimum, get reclining lawn chairs and some blankets or sleeping bags. It can be chilly out even in August, especially if you're sitting still. It would be great to bring some hot drinks in a thermos and some donuts, cookies, or other treats. A battery-powered radio, played quietly, will round out the party atmosphere.
Keep an eye on the weather report as your chosen date approaches, and try to be a little flexible to accommodate any forecasted rain or clouds. With any luck, you'll have an evening both of you will remember fondly for years.
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