8808: View Perseid Meteor Shower at the George Observatory

If you’ll be in the Houston area next week, here’s a unique chance to view the annual Perseid meteor shower. The George Observatory, a satellite facility of the Houston Museum of Natural Science that’s located at Brazos Bend State Park, will be hosting an all-night meteor viewing party on its observatory deck. Held from 9 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11 through dawn on Tuesday, Aug 12, the meteors will start to come into view about 10pm on Monday but later in the night, they’ll appear more frequently.

Admission: Brazos Bend State Park will allow entrance on the evening of Aug. 11 and the morning of Aug. 12 for the meteor shower. There is a $5 per person charge to enter the park; admission is free for children under the age of 12. Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair, mosquito repellant, snacks and a blanket.

Viewing through volunteer telescopes on the observatory’s observation deck is free. You can also purchase a ticket to view the night sky through the 36-inch Gueymard Telescope (photo, left) – one of the largest in the country available for public viewing; tickets will be available from 9 p.m. through midnight for $5 per person.

Location: To reach the park, take U.S. 59 South pas Sugar Land, to the Crabb River Road exit. Turn left and follow the brown signs to the park.

For more information:
• call 281-242-3055
• visit the George Observatory website

Photos courtesy Houston Museum of Natural Science