My Perseids Travel Adventure

[David57]

Since I have retired my wife has become interested in my astronomy endeavors . However I was surprised when she told me we had ferry reservations to Cape Hatteras, NC early in the week to view the Perseids. It's really dark there she said. So on the 8th, ( yes that is early ), we went to Hatteras and camped at Cape Point Camp Ground. This is a 220 spot camp ground and only 20 sites were taken. Was it dark ? Yes ! I'm going back in the Fall. Was it hot ? Yes ! But we had showers nearby and had a great time. On Tuesday night we helped the ranger with her star program and I was the only one there with a scope . Besides the Perseids, we observed Saturn, Mars the moon and Arcturus. We counted about 20-30 per hour each night, no big bolidies. On the 10th we headed to Ocracoke Island, one ferry hop from Hatteras. From the beach near our room we viewed about 40 per hour. It was very dark here. Look at a night sky map. The next day we packed up again and headed for Core Banks just south of Ocracoke Island, NC. We had a cabin right on the beach for the 11th-13th. Here you need four wheel drive. The night sky was dark and we viewed the Perseids till sunrise every day. We quit counting just before dawn but about 60 was the max on the 13th. Some of these were bright with long tails. Our trip was a lot of fun and my wife has become a great help in setting up my scope . She is also learning fast. I was surprised to hear her correctly answer lots of questions about the night sky,( she reads my Sky and Telescope magazine ), from people at the star event. So, if your searching for dark sky on the East Coast, look at the Outerbanks of NC. Hatteras down to Ocracoke was the darkest, then Core Banks.

[Lowjiber]

Nice report. I tuna fish from Oregon Inlet at the Outer Banks and windsurf "The Canadian Hole"... often staying five nights. I can attest how great those skies are.

Getting your wife interested is gonna cost you some money. Mine got hooked a few years ago. She has three scopes that are "hers" and her own case full of ES 18^o eyepieces. I like taking her to public outreach events because she can drive a Dob as well as anybody. (Me? I just sit and watch.)

Thanks for the well-written report.

Clear, Dark Skies