KENT – “Ooo I see it!” was a familiar refrain early Sunday morning, Aug. 11, at the Kent Land Trust field.
A group of 25 people were staring up at the star-filled sky and searching for meteors, also commonly called shooting stars, at midnight. The Perseid Meteor Shower was underway and was predicted to display up to 100 per hour.
The Meteor Watch party was co-sponsored by KLT and Kent Park and Recreation.
The Perseids are a result from the Earth passing through debris that was left behind by the Comet Swift-Tuttle, which passed by the earth in 1992. The debris is bits of ice and rock. While the Perseids happen each year, this year promised a good show because the moon set around midnight and offered a dark sky for viewing.
Those gathered around a fire pit tended by KLT Trails Manager Don Lawson craned their necks skyward. For a full hour the clouds cleared and there were many meteors spotted, particularly in the western sky.
“Did you see it?” was heard time and time again. A couple of people said, “Don’t fall asleep.”
One person had a laser pointer and he used it to point out the north star and some other constellations.
KLT Programs Manager Melissa Cherniske and Park and Rec Director Matt Busse said that the program was the result of brainstorming between them and the KLT interns.
Music played softly to add to the mood and a variety of food was offered up – including the ability to make one’s own s’mores at the fire pit. Brownies, moon pies and lemonade were also available.
Fog and clouds moved in just after 1 a.m. and several people packed up to head home.
