Visitors “star-struck” at Nez Perce National Historical Park: Park holds second annual Perseid Meteor Shower event

Nez Perce National Historical Park Ranger at annual night sky event

NPS photo

For centuries people all over the world have looked up at the sky with wonder; on Saturday August 10, the visitors and park rangers at Nez Perce National Historical Park did the same!

The Perseid Meteor shower occurs each year in August when the Earth passes through the trailing dust of an orbiting comet. That dust creates small bits of material that enter the earth’s atmosphere and appear as streaks of light in the night sky– commonly called shooting stars.

During the evening, dozens of visitors and community members joined park staff gazing upwards in awe at the Idaho night sky. Most were left “star-struck” by the universe of planets, moons, constellations, and meteors above them. Park rangers and NASA Volunteer Ambassador, Dave Eberle, wove traditional Nez Perce stories with the science of astronomy to add to the natural wonders of the evening. "We are grateful for all the people who joined us at this event. With all the great community engagement we hope to continue to grow this program in the future," said Park Ranger Kate Kunkel-Patterson.