In a nod to light pollution and long summer nights, the Chicago Park District is allowing extended access to skygazers this weekend to watch the Perseid meteor shower from Montrose Harbor. In a tweet, the Park District says:
Extended hours AUG 10- 12 until 12AM @We recall that they did the same thing last year, and the park police didn't get the memo, kicking people out of the park at 11pm, as usual. Maybe this year it'll go more smoothly.#12thStBeach &#MontroseBeach 4#Perseid Meteor Shower!@IllinoisScience NOTE: No swimming permitted
Illinois Science Council says: "The Perseid Meteor Shower is an annual astronomical phenomenon in which the earth’s orbit passes through the cloud of particles ejected from the comet Swift-Tuttle as it travels on its 130-year orbit. ... Peak viewing of the Perseid Meteor Shower will be nighttime through pre-dawn hours of Saturday, Aug. 10th to Tuesday, Aug. 13th. Although Chicago suffers from severe light pollution, it is possible to see some of the brighter shooting stars if the sky is clear and you look northeast, over the lake, during those times. The moon phase, a late-rising waning crescent, also helps; not too bright to interfere with viewing the brightest meteors, provided the sky is clear of clouds."
So there you have it, be sure to make a wish! (Thanks to reader DR for passing this along to us.)
Are we able to park a car or will that get ticketed? Would love to go but not necessarily sure I want to be walking through the park at midnight
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