Perseids return: Hearts will soar as stars fall

DIXON - Catch a falling star this Sunday, when the Lowell Park Nature Center hosts its annual viewing of the Perseid meteor shower. The center has hosted a public viewing of the spectacular shower for more than 15 years. "People just like to come out and enjoy the evening watching falling stars," said Deb Carey, Dixon Park District's executive director.

The Perseid shower is visible every year in late July through mid-August, as the Earth plows through a trail of debris that is the wake of the crumbling Swift-Tuttle comet.

Although the comet is nowhere near the Earth, tiny particles traveling 132,000 mph are swept up into Earth's orbit. At that speed, even pieces of dust create brief bursts of light as they disintegrate in the atmosphere.

On a clear night, more than 100 shooting stars can be seen, all with the naked eye. Sunday night to early Monday morning is expected to be the peak time for viewing, with 2 a.m. being the high point.

Those interested can meet at the center at 8:30 p.m. Once assembled, the group will caravan to the dark side of the Nachusa Grasslands to watch the shower.

"You need a nice, dark sky to see the falling stars. You want to stay away from all the city lights and the prison lights," Carey said.

Over the years, more than half of the viewings have been canceled, though, because of cloudy skies, Carey said. That makes this month's new moon a plus.

"Seven or eight years ago, we had a perfect night. I think we saw 119 that year," Carey said.

It's exceptional to see more than 100 falling stars - viewers often only see a smattering an hour.

"Don't look for a tremendous amount of action. I don't ever remember seeing more than one at a time," Carey said. "They're just little streaks through the sky. Once in a while, you'll get a spectacular one that leaves a tail, but they're very, very quick. These aren't like fireworks that go up in the sky and hang there. It's just a fraction of a second."

However, it's an enthralling millisecond, Carey said.