UIS to host Perseid viewing party Aug. 12

The University of Illinois Springfield is using the peak night of the Perseid meteor shower for a public skywatching event in Springfield on Aug. 12. UIS said its astronomy program will co-host a star party with Lincoln Memorial Garden and the Sangamon Astronomical Society from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Drive. The event is open to the public, according to UIS event listings. NASA said the Perseids will peak on the night of Aug. 12 into the early morning of Aug. 13, with a new moon expected to keep skies dark for viewing. ### Where is the viewing party actually being held? Lincoln Memorial Garden, not the main UIS campus, is the listed site for the Aug. 12 event. UIS said the gathering will be held at 2301 E. Lake Shore Drive in Springfield and described it as a co-hosted star party with the garden and the Sangamon Astronomical Society. (uis.edu) The UIS summer star parties page also lists an Aug. 12 event at Lincoln Memorial Garden and says summer events are weather permitting. UIS said weather information will be posted on its astronomy pages. ### What will people be able to see there? The Perseid meteor shower is the main attraction for the night, UIS said. The university described the Perseids as one of the year’s most anticipated astronomy events and said the shower occurs each August as Earth passes through debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. (uis.edu 1) (uis.edu 2) NASA said the shower has been active since early July and will continue through the end of August. The agency said the Perseids are among the brightest and most popular annual meteor showers, and that the 2026 peak will come on the night of Aug. 12 into Aug. 13. ### Why is this year’s timing getting attention? (uis.edu) Aug. 12 lines up with unusually dark viewing conditions. NASA said a new moon on Aug. 12 should leave skies ideally dark during the peak, while Sky & Telescope said observers can expect moonless skies all night long. The UIS event notice says the 2026 shower is expected to peak on Aug. 12. (nasa.gov) That gives the local event a date that matches the broader skywatching guidance from NASA. ### What does UIS say attendees should expect on site? UIS said the event is a star party, a format the university uses for public observing programs with community partners. (nasa.gov) The university’s astronomy event listing says the Aug. 12 gathering is part of its summer star parties schedule. The UIS news release does not list a ticket price and describes the event as open to the public. (uis.edu) WAND reported the university will host the viewing party for the meteor shower visible across central Illinois. ### When is the best time to look up? NASA said the Perseids will peak overnight, with the best viewing running from the night of Aug. 12 into the early morning of Aug. 13. (uis.edu) The agency said it will also livestream a meteor watch party starting at midnight Eastern time on Aug. 13. The UIS event itself is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Lincoln Memorial Garden in Springfield. (uis.edu) UIS said weather-related updates will be posted on its astronomy pages as the date approaches. (nasa.gov)