The Perseids are right around the corner on the evening of August 11th and the early morning hours of August 12th. A few of us are heading out to Pit n Pole with my propane heater to just sit and watch for Perseids and enjoy each other's company. I am not planning on taking a scope to use that night, just a set of bino's. So if anyone here wants to join us, feel free to do so or make plans to go elsewhere. It is a waning crescent that night and it will rise shortly after 1:00a.m. Sunset is around 8:30pm so one could get some scope time in or photography in if they want. I just want to enjoy the night sky that night. Hope lots of people get out that night. To quote the following link: "On those August mornings, as an added treat, the moon will be sweeping past the brightest planets – Venus and Jupiter – in the eastern predawn sky. You can’t ask for more!" Link to EarthSky on meteror showers for this year: http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide If you haven't seen M45, Jupiter, Aldebaran and the Hyades and Venus in the early morning (after 4:00a.m.) feel free to go and see Jorge G.'s image he took at this link: http://astronomyinutah.forumer.com/4-am-trio-andromeda-widefield-ngc-7000-t1... Venus was so brilliant it took me back when I watched it come up! Beautiful site in the morning sky. Jorge did a great job I feel. -- Thanks, Jay Eads