Heavens Above

Anyone can wish upon a falling star, and a meteor shower provides for lots of wishes. The best viewing is generally very early in the morning, which is ideal, since many children are natural early risers. With a cup of hot cocoa and their favorite snack, your children may find this type of 'off-hours' adventure exciting. Be sure they are dressed appropriately, and have something comfortable to sit or lie back on. Help them count how many 'shooting stars' they see (and remind them to be sure and make a wish for each one!).

Some of the year's best meteor showers include the Perseids, the Leonids, and the Geminids.

Perseids (Aug. 8-15): This best-known meteor shower occurs at a pleasant time of the year for Northern Hemisphere observers. The constellation Perseus, from which the meteors seem to radiate, rises in the northeast in the evening. The best viewing usually occurs between midnight and dawn. In 2000 a waxing Moon (full on the 15th) will unfortunately limit visibility, but good viewing can still be had after the Moon has set (around 3:30 a.m.). To best observe the Perseids, instruct your kids to lay with their feet pointing southward and look straight up. Meteors can appear in any part of the sky, so you should keep your eyes moving around slowly within 10-15 degrees of the zenith, rather than fixing them in any one place.

Leonids (Nov. 17-18): The Leonid shower occurs when Earth passes near the orbit of Comet Tempel-Tuttle. When the comet visits the inner solar system, the Leonid shower sometimes produces a veritable storm of meteors.

The Leonids appear to radiate from the western portion of the constellation Leo. Weather permitting, the best viewing is in the early morning hours. This time, have your kids lay with their feet pointing to the east, and tell them to look above and around the radiant (the point at which the parallel paths of the meteors appear to meet when traced backwards).

Geminids (Dec. 12-14): This is the only major meteor shower known to be associated with an asteroid (3200 Phaethon). The Geminids appear to radiate from the constellation Gemini. Again, as with the Perseids and the Leonids, the best viewing is in the early morning hours. The kids should lay with their feet pointing to the east and look above and around the radiant.

Satellites
For those children more interested in rockets than in meteors, tracking satellites is a fun alternative, and especially easy to do on clear nights. The International Space Station has become easily visible in the night sky, and the Russian space station Mir is a favorite among satellite watchers.

The 66 or so satellites that make up the Iridium "satellite constellation" are also producing some spectacular sightings, most notably the incredibly bright flares that occur when sunlight is reflected by the satellites' antenna arrays.

Plan Ahead
With a little planning, outdoor ventures can coincide with some of the more spectacular annual displays. Visible constellations and the positions of the planets vary with the seasons, as well as the time of day, so you may wish to consult a planisphere when planning your trip. A planisphere, or, a projection of the celestial sphere and the stars, often on a plane with adjustable circles, is exacting and inexpensive. Planispheres can be found at many book stores, or on Amazon.com. For a complete listing of events, the Sky Gazer's Almanac is also a great resource.