Dark night skies above Blackwater Falls State Park will offer excellent views of the annual Perseid meteor shower Thursday, Aug. 11, and Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. Paulita Cousin, park naturalist, will be the sky watching host at the Nature Center at 8 p.m. each evening.
Beech Fork State Park also has a Perseid meteor watching event Friday, Aug. 12, from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Wooten Recreation Area. Astronomer Bob Hogsett will be the host.
The showers can be seen just after darkness falls, but the number of meteors per hour increases after midnight.
“Blackwater Falls State Park has one of the darkest skies in the east. It is a perfect setting to watch these annual astronomical fireworks,” said Park Naturalist Paulita Cousin. Beech Fork State Park also provides excellent night sky viewing area in the recreation area.
The events are free and open to the public. Lawn chairs and blankets are recommended. More information about Blackwater Falls State Park is available at www.blackwaterfalls.com or by calling 304-259-5216. For Beech Fork State Park, visit www.beechforksp.com or call 304-528-5764.
