Skywatchers get a treat

Published 5:00 pm Thursday, August 9, 2012

OK sky watching fans, a treat is in store for you this weekend: The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is holding its largest star party of the year, the PERSEID METEOR SHOWER WATCH starting at 8 p.m. Sunday at L.L. Stub Stewart State Park, on Oregon Highway 47 near Vernonia.

For the uninitiated (like the Ear), Spacedex.com provides an explanation of this phenomenon: While this summer spectacular (showers) appear to radiate from a constellation, they are actually caused by the Earth passing through the dust particles of the comet Swift-Tuttle. Each summer, Earth passes into a trail of dust left by this comet, and as a result, all the dust and debris burning up in our atmosphere, travelling at a very fast 132,000 miles per second, produces the spectacle known as the Perseids meteor shower, or what are popularly recognized as shooting stars.

Dont have a telescope? Never fear, telescopes will be set up for you to use. OMSI staff will present informal talks about the meteor shower, constellations and the summer sky.

On Sunday, its probably a good idea to call the OMSI Star Parties Hotline at 503-797-4610, #3 then #5, or go to www.omsi.edu/starparties for possible weather-related cancellations.

Elleda Wilson