See Mammoth Cave National Park Perseids Star Party on August 12th
Get ready to celebrate the mesmerizing Perseids Meteor Shower at the epic Mammoth Cave Star Party! Join fellow stargazers for a night of celestial magic and marvel at the awe-inspiring meteor shower. It’s the perfect chance to witness shooting stars, make a wish, and experience the wonders of the universe. Don’t miss out on this astronomical extravaganza – mark your calendars and prepare for an unforgettable night under the starry sky at Mammoth Cave!
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Join the party at Mammoth Cave National Park! Prepare to be starstruck as you celebrate the Perseid Meteor Shower on August 12. From 7:30 p.m. till 10:45 p.m., you’ll have a front row seat to an epic celestial show. The awesome park rangers at Mammoth Cave National Park will be there to chat about the night sky, let you peek through powerful telescopes for a planet-peeping experience, and even hand out Junior Ranger Night Explorer books for the kids. So, grab a blanket and bring your favorite camping chair, lay back, and let the meteors put on a dazzling display above you. It’s a night you won’t want to miss!
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What is the Perseid Meteor Shower?
Get ready to be starstruck this August! The Perseid Meteor Shower, or Perseids, is about to light up the night skies with a mind-blowing spectacle of “shooting stars.” But here’s the heavenly twist: these shooting stars are actually meteors made up of ice or rock, ranging from teeny-tiny sand grains to whopping boulders. Talk about cosmic variety!
And hold on tight, because past Perseids Meteor shows have put on quite the celestial show. Picture this: up to a whopping 100 meteors visible per hour in the darkest of spots. That’s like a meteor party in the sky! Perseids Meteor Shower parties are held all across the country, from Mammoth Cave to the desert of Joshua Tree, CA.
Perseids is an annual event that occurs every year between July 17th and August 25th. Typically, thisastronomical event will peak in visibility for stargazers around August 9th to August 13th.
So mark your calendars, grab your favorite blanket, and prepare for a jaw-dropping dance of shooting stars this August. You won’t want to miss this stellar extravaganza!
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How to Watch:
The fun starts at the outdoor amphitheater near the Camp Store.As mention, the park rangers will be available to provide information about the event. To the average stargazer, this will be an interpretive talk that dives deep into the fascinating world of the night sky. You’ll learn all about why the night sky is so crucial for plants, animals, and even us humans. Plus, you’ll discover the dark side of light pollution, and why efforts were made around the park which gained it an official International Dark Sky Park recognition!
As the sun begins to set and darkness takes over, everyone can head over to the bus loop of the Visitor Center. And guess what? That’s where they’re bringing out the big guns – telescopes! That’s right, you’ll have a chance to see the stars up close and personal. But it gets better. Local astronomers are also invited to bring their telescopes and join the Star Party. So you can bet it’s going to be a night to remember.
Grab your friends, bring some snacks, and get ready for an out-of-this-world experience. Don’t miss out on the night sky events – it’s going to be astronomical! Get ready to have your mind blown at the night sky events!
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Where is this stargazing event?
You should meet at the amphitheater which is located between the Camp Store and the Mammoth Cave Lodge. Since there is no parking directly at this location, you should park at either of those designated parking spots. The overflow parking, which is the first road on the left past the Engine No 4. train on display, will offer the most parking spots and shortest walk.
Mammoth Cave Amphitheatre
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When is the Star Party?
This Mammoth Cave Star Party coincides with the Perseids Meteor Shower which occurs on August 12, 2023. This is an annual event that occurs around the same time each year due to earth’s placement in the atmosphere.
DATE: August 12th, 2023 from 7:30pm to 10:45pm CT
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Mammoth Cave International Dark Sky Park
Technically, the International Dark Sky Park in Mammoth Cave is the national park in general! It received this rating due to requirements the park met as a whole. However, this Perseid Meteor Shower event will be located the Mammoth Cave amphitheater, just adjacent to the Visitors Center.
Nonetheless, it was crowned an International Dark Sky Park in 2021 by the awesomely prestigious International Dark-Sky Association. So what exactly does this mean? Well, it means that this place has some seriously out-of-this-world starry nights and a nocturnal environment that’s been carefully safeguarded for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and pure public joy. Talk about a night under the stars like no other! So bust out the telescopes and grab your camping gear to celebrate Mammoth Cave National Park landing a stellar recognition!
Please note that since this event is outdoors and dependent on clear nighttime skies, it may be canceled in the event of hazardous weather that could provide unsafe conditions for attendees. So bring a blanket or your favorite camping chair, a telescope if you have one, our Mammoth Cave Shirt and we’ll see you there!
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