Nature’s next dazzling light show is the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks Tuesday and Wednesday this week with prime viewing opportunities at two East End state parks, according to the New York State parks and recreation department.
On the South Fork, Montauk Point State Park will keep its upper parking lot open, perfect for watching meteors dance above the horizon. Just across Gardiner's Bay on the North Fork, Orient Beach State Park provides another option for a stunning shoreline perspective.
No fees or permits are needed — viewers may want to take a reclining chair, bug spray, and warm layers. Face northeast for the best views; binoculars are not required to see dozens of meteors per hour streak across the sky.
For those who want to continue their astronomical explorations beyond this week, Hamptons Observatory will host a lecture on Aug. 19 at the East Hampton Library. Dr. David John Helfand, a Columbia University astronomer, will present "The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom," based on his new book. Following the talk, Dr. Helfand will be available for book signings, with copies available for purchase. Registration is required via the Hamptons Observatory website, hamptonsobservatory.org.
