Not everyone will be able to get to a dark sky or stay up late enough to see the Perseid Meteor shower tonight, so I have a little warm-up act for you to view. In the hour after sunset the planets and moon make a beautiful diversion and one you don't have to leave home to see. Tomorrow's view is pretty too, with the moon, so check out the view on both nights. Here's a little writeup about the planetary view with some fun graphics and photos: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2010/08/10/a-warm-up-act-for-the-perseids/ It was fun to run the JPL Solar System Simulator and see the planets in their orbits. Take it on a spin to see where the Voyagers are right now. In case you are wondering, I'm heading out to Amboy Crater tonight with a couple of the other Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers. Amboy Crater is just south of Mojave National Preserve on US 40. It's the closest "darkest of the dark spots" on the International Clear Sky Chart. http://cleardarksky.com/csk/prov/California_map.html?Mn=eyepiece If you decide to make the long drive (over 200 miles), you are welcome to join us. We will be trying to preserve our dark adaption as best we can from 11pm until 4am, so be careful with your car lights, flashlights, cell phones, Ipods, cameras and other bright things. Use them away from the observers. :-) No telescope required, just a comfy chair and plenty of water. The forcast low overnight will be in the high 80's. :-( To follow the Perseids vicariously watch or comment on the JPL Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/NASAJPL?ref=ts and /or watch any of these Twitter hashtags: #perseids, #IMOmeteors #meteorwatch ;-) Jane Jane Houston Jones Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205 Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435 jane.h.jones@jpl.nasa.gov What's Up For August? Perseids! http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm