BY KAREN BOSSICK
It’s August and that means it’s nearly time for the Perseid Meteor Shower.
Join Bellevue astronomer Tim Frazier on Zoom as he discusses the who, what, where and why of the annual astronomical event at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5.
“We are lucky to enjoy some of the darkest skies in the nation, and each summer we have a front row seat for the Perseid Meteor Shower, which peaks this year on the nights of Aug. 11 and 12,” said Kristin Fletcher, adult programs coordinator for the Hailey Public Library. “Some years 50 to 75 meteors can be seen each hour at remote locations. It can be spectacular!”
The prolific Perseid Meteor Showers usually become active about a month leading up to their peak. They are called the Perseids because they appear to hail from a point within the constellation Perseus. Usually considered the best meteor shower of the year, they feature large fireballs of light and color that typically persist longer than the average meteor streak.
Frazier is a telescope maker and past president of the Magic Valley Astronomical Society. He headed a team from Idaho State University that built an experimental capsule launched into space by NASA in 2009.
To join the virtual discussion, email Kristin.fletcher@haileypubliclibrary.org. To learn more about the talk, call 208-788-2036 or visit www.haileypubliclibrary.org.