CARLSBAD - Carlsbad Caverns National Park welcomes the public to view the Perseid meteor shower on Saturday, Aug. 10, and Sunday, Aug. 11, at 8:15 p.m., in the east main parking lot of the Carlsbad Caverns visitor center. The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year and is expected to be at its peak on the weekend of August 10 and 11.
Far from the lights of town, Carlsbad Caverns National Park boasts wonderfully dark night skies, perfect conditions for seeing and contemplating the cosmos. The park will have telescopes available on both nights to view our moon, which will be a waxing crescent on those nights. On Sunday, Aug. 11, rangers will offer constellation tours of the late summer night sky as well as a moon dial activity illustrating the lunar phases for children.
Viewing opportunities are dependent on favorable weather conditions. No advance reservations are required for this free event. Visitors should bring a flashlight and dress for the weather, which can be cool at night. Please be mindful of others' night vision when using flashlights.
Parking for the visitor center and Bat Flight program will be limited to the west lot near the Cavern Restaurant. Neither the visitor center nor the cave will be open at the time of this event.
Schedule of events:
5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Theater Programs about the Night Sky: Before the sun sets, rangers will present two programs in the visitor center about meteor showers.
7:30 p.m. Bat Flight Program: A ranger will lead a talk about the bats of Carlsbad
Caverns National Park until the bats begin to fly. Remember, all electronic devices (cameras, cell phones, iPads, iPods) are prohibited at Bat Flight programs.
8:15 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.: Night sky viewing: View the Perseid meteor shower with the naked eye, see the details of our moon through a telescope, and take a ranger-led tour of the constellations. Rangers also will present an activity on lunar phases for children.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park will host additional Star Parties on September 8 and October 6 of this year.
- www.NPS.gov-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
