Saturday, August 10
By John C. Dean
Contributing Writer
Ready to “ooh” and “aww” at the unmatched brilliance of a Watoga State Park Perseid meteor shower? How about the glistening water of the 11-acre Watoga Lake as the backdrop for a meteor show on a warm West Virginia night?
“The dust trail that causes the Perseids is from periodic comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle,” said Michael Rosolina, one of two local amateur astronomers assisting with telescopes. “This is a Halley- type comet that goes out past the orbit of Jupiter and comes back in every 133 years. It last came through in 1992, and will be bringing fresh dust and debris in 2125 (so mark your calendars).”
Knowing that date is over a century away may prompt you to attend the park’s Third Annual Dark Sky Party on Saturday, August 10 at Watoga Dam. Maybe you’ll even hear the lyrics to Perry Como’s classic, “Catch a Falling Star.”
This annual shower usually offers a consistently high rate of meteors, producing a higher percentage of bright ones during the week, as Earth passes through the dust left by Swift-Tuttle. Buhrman said the brighter ones are “shooting stars” and that only our eyes are needed to view, “but they’re fast!”
This is the first dark sky event ever held at Watoga. The Watoga Dam location was selected as the best viewing site for stars, galaxies and meteor showers. The first two star parties were at Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park. Droop is included under Watoga’s dark sky designation by Dark Sky International (https://www. dark sky.org), along with Calvin Price State Forest which borders Watoga.
Dark sky watchers will be in for a treat in early August through their peak with frequent, steady, colorful meteor showers, often leaving “persistent trains,” according to earthsky.org
In the early morning hours of complete stillness, you may leave West Virginia’s only designated International Dark Sky Park with the opinion that the Perseid shower is now the favorite of all of your Northern Hemisphere meteor shower gazing.
“A young crescent moon will track in the treetops until 10:30 p.m., but by 9:15 the night sky will have darkened enough to spot a few satellites,” said Dave Buhrman, the other local amateur astronomer and astrophotographer, who is also assisting with telescope placement and maneuvering.
“Looking south across the lake, the glorious summer Milky Way will grow brighter after 9:30. Saturn will rise in the east by 10:15, and as Perseus climbs above the horizon, the night’s meteor show will begin. We hope to have several telescopes on the dam, and you’re encouraged to bring binoculars if you have them.”
If inclement weather causes the event’s cancellation, the dark sky party will be Sunday, August 11, or if Sunday is also affected, then the festivities will be Monday, August 12.
Buhrman reminds galaxy aficionados that clear nights always make it cooler around Watoga Lake.
“Bring extra clothing and maybe a blanket to lay on the ground and take in West Virginia’s inky black summer skies,” he said.
“Our Watoga Dark Star Party is a fun night to celebrate the dark skies of Watoga with some education included,” said Mary Dawson, a member of the Watoga State Park Foundation Board of Directors. “It is a great opportunity for families to enjoy a quiet evening of star gazing while listening to beautiful soft music.
“Our amateur astronomers are there to explain the view in the telescope and answer questions.”
The music will be provided by Erica Marks on the cello.
Some smaller telescopes will be available for use by dark sky partygoers.
Children will receive puzzles and color sheets with information about light pollution and wildlife. Crayons or colored pencils are included.
As a safety precaution, red-bulbed lanterns will be placed throughout the area. Additionally, red-bulbed flashlights will be available for everyone to use during the evening. Glow-in-the-dark bracelets will be handed out at the entrance to add to the festive atmosphere.
Due to limited space and safety reasons, no pets will be permitted in the viewing area.
Who knows?
Maybe you’ll be the one to “catch a falling star.”
