Moon, Meteor Shower Featured At Sky-Viewing Event

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In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 in Spruce Knob, West Virginia. The Perseids show up every year in August when Earth ventures through trails of debris left behind by an ancient comet. This year, Earth may be in for a closer encounter than usual with the comet trails that result in meteor shower, setting the stage for a spectacular display. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

The Hailey Public Library will host the second in a series of free, off-site, family-friendly night sky viewing opportunities with well-known local astronomer Tim Frazier from 9:30–11:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12. Featured will be the bright full moon, Perseid meteors and constellation lore. For details, RSVP to kristin.fletcher@haileypubliclibrary.org. Telescopes will be available.

Some years 50 to 75 meteors, bits of ice and rock left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, can be seen per hour at remote locations. This year the Perseids share centerstage with a full moon which will be just a little brighter than a regular full moon because of its proximity to Earth.  

Frazier has an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University and published papers on eclipsing binary. He earned his MFA from the University of Florida and has work in over a dozen international collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.  

In addition to his fine art work, Frazier was the faculty sponsor for a NASA-funded, high-altitude balloon project for six years which launched experiments and cameras to altitudes in excess of 90,000 feet. In 2009, Frazier headed a team from Idaho State University that built an experimental capsule which was launched into space by NASA. 

For more information, contact the library at (208) 788-2036 or visit www.haileypubliclibrary.org.