JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JULY 28, 2023 – Join Cuivre River State Park naturalists at the big field in Camp Sherwood Forest for the meteor shower watch party Saturday, Aug. 12. Gates to Camp Sherwood will open at 8 p.m. and the event will begin an hour later. Follow the "Special Event" signs in the park to get to Camp Sherwood.
Guests should bring insect repellent, a flashlight and a blanket, and lie under the stars in our grassy area. While we wait for the meteors, the naturalist will point out constellations and share folklore relating to the night sky.
Each August, the Earth moves into the path of debris left behind by the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet to create the Perseid meteor shower. While the peak will happen closer to dawn on Sunday, the evening "shooting stars" are some of the most stunning, even a day or two before peak. As the sun sets and the Earth moves into the path of the debris, some of the debris will skip off of the atmosphere, often creating meteors that are very bright and colorful. These "Earth-grazers" are long and slow, and can be a variety of colors. The Perseid meteor shower is one of the best showers of the year and you can often see 90 or more meteors per hour during the peak.
Due to the overwhelming interest in this event, we are requiring registration, as space in Camp Sherwood is limited. Attendees must come to the park office sometime the week of the event (between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.) to pick up a parking pass. To register, please call the park office at 636-528-7247 and be ready with contact information and number of passengers in your vehicle.
Cuivre River State Park is located 5 miles east of Troy at 678 State Route 147. For more information, call the park office at 636-528-7247.
For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.