Explore Dorothea Dix Park: Skywatching - The Perseid Meteor Shower
Join staff and volunteers from the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society (CHAOS) and Raleigh Astronomy Club (RAC) for a free skywatching program at Dorothea Dix Park!
Visitors to the park will be able to look through telescopes, facilitated by Morehead staff and dedicated volunteers, at a variety of objects in the sky. Jupiter, Saturn and Mars will be prime targets -- along with many other deep sky objects. This session is being held at the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, so keep your eyes pointed skyward even when you are not looking through a telescope!
We are pleased to announce that the Triangle Sax Ensemble will be joining us for this event and playing themed music! Come out and enjoy the stars AND the music! Bring a blanket or chairs so you can relax under the stars.
9:00pm - 11:00pm
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Location: 101 Blair Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603
Know Before You Go:
Parking: Parking is available in gravel lots on Biggs Drive (please do not park on grass under the trees) and at the Adams Building Lot, located roughly at 101 Blair Drive. Please be courteous when driving in and try not to have your headlights light up the field more than necessary. Please bring a small flashlight to help you walk across the field, but you might find that avoiding all light and letting your eyes adjust to the darkness is more beneficial. Even a little light can throw off your night vision.
Arrival: This is an informal session, so you can arrive and leave any time during the three hours of the program. However, if you plan to attend, please register so that we can send you any additional information you may need as we get closer to the date..
Attire: Be sure to dress in layers. There are no shelters at the skywatching location and the wind can be chilly.
Food and Restrooms: There are no bathrooms in the park and no drinkable water, so please plan to bring a water bottle and come prepared to only have portajohns available, which are a significant walk from the skywatching site. Walking in grass and up and down hills may be necessary.
Pets: Please leave all pets at home, even those on a leash. Darkness, lots of people, expensive telescopes and pets on leashes is a bad combination. Pets will not be permitted near the telescopes.
For more FAQ'x, please visit: MoreheadPlanetarium.org.