Skywatching at Dix Park - Perseid Meteor Shower
Observe the Perseid Meteor Shower in the night sky!
Join staff and volunteers from the Morehead Planetarium & Science Center and Raleigh Astronomy Club in viewing the Perseid Meteor Shower at Dix Park on its peak night!
All you need to view meteors are your eyes, but we’ll also have telescopes for you to view other celestial delights, such as double stars, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.
What to Bring
A blanket or chairs so you can relax under the stars and listen to the music.
A small flashlight to help you walk across the field, but you might find that avoiding all light and letting your eyes adjust to the darkness is more beneficial. Even a little light can throw off your night vision.
Know Before You Go
This is an informal session, so you can arrive and leave any time during the program.
All ages are welcome. Very young children may not get much out of looking through a telescope, but those elementary-school-aged and older may especially enjoy the experience. Parents: We recommend you look through the telescope first—then you’ll be better able to help your child look.
Sometimes, children (as well as adults) want to grab hold of the telescope, potentially smudging the eyepiece or knocking the object out of view. Please teach children not to touch the telescope without the operator’s permission. You can ask children to place their hands behind their back as they approach the scope. Explain they’ll be using their eyes to look, not their hands.
Be sure to dress for the weather. There are no shelters at the skywatching location.
Port-a-johns are available near the program site.
Please leave all pets at home, even those on a leash. Darkness, lots of people, expensive telescopes and pets on leashes is a bad combination. Pets will not be permitted near the telescopes.
Morehead Planetarium & Science Center Skywatching FAQs
Tickets
We strongly encourage you to RSVP. RSVPs help us plan for how many people to expect and you can receive important event information including inclement weather information.
Weather
Unfortunately, the meteor shower can't be seen through clouds. Skywatching will be canceled if it is cloudy or raining.
If we need to postpone or cancel due to inclement weather, we will communicate through Eventbrite email. Park staff has the right to cancel programs onsite if severe weather poses a safety risk.
Location
- The event will be held on the Big Field at Dix Park, 101 Blair Drive Raleigh 27603
- The best park entrances to use are Hunt Drive off of Western Boulevard or Blair Drive off of Centennial Parkway.
Parking
- Parking is available in the parking lots off of Blair Drive and Umstead Drive.
- Due to the high volume of people and limited parking, please carpool if possible.
- Do not park in the grass – driving on tree roots damages the trees and we want to keep the 150 year old oaks around for as long as possible!
Questions?
Contact Dix Park Staff at 919-996-3255 or events@dixpark.org
Accessibility
Dix Park continues to strive to be accessible and welcoming for visitors, including those with disabilities. Currently, portions of Dix Park, including some areas where programs and events occur, have uneven surfaces and are not fully accessible. Accessibility is a primary focus for early park improvements and all future planning and development.
Parking: Accessible parking spaces are available in all lots.
Restrooms: Accessible port-a-johns are located at the Big Field and Flowers Field. Indoor accessible restrooms are available in the newly renovated Chapel.
Programs and events: Raleigh Parks Inclusion Services works with community members to support participation. To request a program modification based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please complete and submit the Accommodation Request Form or contact Inclusion Services staff at 919-996-2147 or ParksInclusion@raleighnc.gov.
Liability Waiver
City of Raleigh - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department
Release, Covenant Not To Sue, and Indemnity Agreement
I understand that participating in Dix Park Programs and Events (hereinafter “Program”) involves risk of injury. These risks include, but are not limited to, inclement weather, accidents while traveling, equipment problems or failures, contacts with and actions of other participants, spectators, or volunteers, slips/trips/falls, and musculoskeletal injuries, among others. I choose for myself, for my child, or for another participant who I am enrolling, to participate in the Program despite these and other risks.
By registering for this Program, I acknowledge all risks of injury, illness, and death, and property damage, and affirm that I have assumed all responsibility of injury, illness, death, and property damage relating in any way to the Program. I also agree for myself and for any child or other participant who I am registering herein to follow all rules and procedures that may apply to the Program and to follow the reasonable instructions of City employees and other supervisors of the Program. In return for the opportunity to participate in this Program, I agree for myself and for the child or other participant I am registering, and for our heirs, assigns, executors, and administrators to release, waive, and discharge any legal rights that any one of us may have to seek payment or relief of any kind from the City of Raleigh, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and the State of North Carolina, their employees or their agents for injury, illness, or death relating in any way to this Program.
If I am registering a minor for the Program, I agree that I am a parent, legal guardian, or am otherwise responsible for the minor whose application I am submitting and that I release, waive, and discharge any legal rights on behalf of that minor. If I am registering an adult, I agree that I am authorized to do so and do hereby release, waive, and discharge any legal rights on behalf of that adult participant. I, along with any participant I register herein, also agree not to sue the City of Raleigh, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, or the State of North Carolina, their employees, or their agents and agree to indemnify the same for any and all claims, damages, losses or expenses, including but not limited to medical expenses and attorney’s fees, if a suit is filed concerning an injury (to person or property), illness, or death to me or to any participant I am enrolling that relates to, or results from, participation in the Program.
I have read this waiver thoroughly and understand that by registering for this program I am waiving legal rights.
Photo Release
Pictures or video may be taken of participants at this Program for use in Dix Park publicity. By registering for the Program, I hereby grant the City of Raleigh, Dix Park Conservancy, and program partners permission to use my likeness in a photograph, video, or other digital media (“photo”) in any and all of their publications, including web-based publications and digital platforms, without payment or other consideration. I hereby irrevocably authorize the City of Raleigh, the Dix Park Conservancy, and program partners to edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish, or distribute these photos for any lawful purpose.
I have read this release thoroughly and understand that by registering for this program I am waiving legal rights. If I am registering a minor for the Program, I agree that I am a parent, legal guardian, or am otherwise responsible for the minor whose application I am submitting and that I affirm consent on behalf of that minor.
Email Consent
By Registering for this Program, I consent to receive emails from Dix Park and Dix Park Conservancy about park news, community engagement, opportunities to support the park, as well as upcoming programs and events. Participants can unsubscribe at any time.
Observe the Perseid Meteor Shower in the night sky!
Join staff and volunteers from the Morehead Planetarium & Science Center and Raleigh Astronomy Club in viewing the Perseid Meteor Shower at Dix Park on its peak night!
All you need to view meteors are your eyes, but we’ll also have telescopes for you to view other celestial delights, such as double stars, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.
What to Bring
A blanket or chairs so you can relax under the stars and listen to the music.
A small flashlight to help you walk across the field, but you might find that avoiding all light and letting your eyes adjust to the darkness is more beneficial. Even a little light can throw off your night vision.
Know Before You Go
This is an informal session, so you can arrive and leave any time during the program.
All ages are welcome. Very young children may not get much out of looking through a telescope, but those elementary-school-aged and older may especially enjoy the experience. Parents: We recommend you look through the telescope first—then you’ll be better able to help your child look.
Sometimes, children (as well as adults) want to grab hold of the telescope, potentially smudging the eyepiece or knocking the object out of view. Please teach children not to touch the telescope without the operator’s permission. You can ask children to place their hands behind their back as they approach the scope. Explain they’ll be using their eyes to look, not their hands.
Be sure to dress for the weather. There are no shelters at the skywatching location.
Port-a-johns are available near the program site.
Please leave all pets at home, even those on a leash. Darkness, lots of people, expensive telescopes and pets on leashes is a bad combination. Pets will not be permitted near the telescopes.
Morehead Planetarium & Science Center Skywatching FAQs
Tickets
We strongly encourage you to RSVP. RSVPs help us plan for how many people to expect and you can receive important event information including inclement weather information.
Weather
Unfortunately, the meteor shower can't be seen through clouds. Skywatching will be canceled if it is cloudy or raining.
If we need to postpone or cancel due to inclement weather, we will communicate through Eventbrite email. Park staff has the right to cancel programs onsite if severe weather poses a safety risk.
Location
- The event will be held on the Big Field at Dix Park, 101 Blair Drive Raleigh 27603
- The best park entrances to use are Hunt Drive off of Western Boulevard or Blair Drive off of Centennial Parkway.
Parking
- Parking is available in the parking lots off of Blair Drive and Umstead Drive.
- Due to the high volume of people and limited parking, please carpool if possible.
- Do not park in the grass – driving on tree roots damages the trees and we want to keep the 150 year old oaks around for as long as possible!
Questions?
Contact Dix Park Staff at 919-996-3255 or events@dixpark.org
Accessibility
Dix Park continues to strive to be accessible and welcoming for visitors, including those with disabilities. Currently, portions of Dix Park, including some areas where programs and events occur, have uneven surfaces and are not fully accessible. Accessibility is a primary focus for early park improvements and all future planning and development.
Parking: Accessible parking spaces are available in all lots.
Restrooms: Accessible port-a-johns are located at the Big Field and Flowers Field. Indoor accessible restrooms are available in the newly renovated Chapel.
Programs and events: Raleigh Parks Inclusion Services works with community members to support participation. To request a program modification based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please complete and submit the Accommodation Request Form or contact Inclusion Services staff at 919-996-2147 or ParksInclusion@raleighnc.gov.
Liability Waiver
City of Raleigh - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department
Release, Covenant Not To Sue, and Indemnity Agreement
I understand that participating in Dix Park Programs and Events (hereinafter “Program”) involves risk of injury. These risks include, but are not limited to, inclement weather, accidents while traveling, equipment problems or failures, contacts with and actions of other participants, spectators, or volunteers, slips/trips/falls, and musculoskeletal injuries, among others. I choose for myself, for my child, or for another participant who I am enrolling, to participate in the Program despite these and other risks.
By registering for this Program, I acknowledge all risks of injury, illness, and death, and property damage, and affirm that I have assumed all responsibility of injury, illness, death, and property damage relating in any way to the Program. I also agree for myself and for any child or other participant who I am registering herein to follow all rules and procedures that may apply to the Program and to follow the reasonable instructions of City employees and other supervisors of the Program. In return for the opportunity to participate in this Program, I agree for myself and for the child or other participant I am registering, and for our heirs, assigns, executors, and administrators to release, waive, and discharge any legal rights that any one of us may have to seek payment or relief of any kind from the City of Raleigh, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and the State of North Carolina, their employees or their agents for injury, illness, or death relating in any way to this Program.
If I am registering a minor for the Program, I agree that I am a parent, legal guardian, or am otherwise responsible for the minor whose application I am submitting and that I release, waive, and discharge any legal rights on behalf of that minor. If I am registering an adult, I agree that I am authorized to do so and do hereby release, waive, and discharge any legal rights on behalf of that adult participant. I, along with any participant I register herein, also agree not to sue the City of Raleigh, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, or the State of North Carolina, their employees, or their agents and agree to indemnify the same for any and all claims, damages, losses or expenses, including but not limited to medical expenses and attorney’s fees, if a suit is filed concerning an injury (to person or property), illness, or death to me or to any participant I am enrolling that relates to, or results from, participation in the Program.
I have read this waiver thoroughly and understand that by registering for this program I am waiving legal rights.
Photo Release
Pictures or video may be taken of participants at this Program for use in Dix Park publicity. By registering for the Program, I hereby grant the City of Raleigh, Dix Park Conservancy, and program partners permission to use my likeness in a photograph, video, or other digital media (“photo”) in any and all of their publications, including web-based publications and digital platforms, without payment or other consideration. I hereby irrevocably authorize the City of Raleigh, the Dix Park Conservancy, and program partners to edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish, or distribute these photos for any lawful purpose.
I have read this release thoroughly and understand that by registering for this program I am waiving legal rights. If I am registering a minor for the Program, I agree that I am a parent, legal guardian, or am otherwise responsible for the minor whose application I am submitting and that I affirm consent on behalf of that minor.
Email Consent
By Registering for this Program, I consent to receive emails from Dix Park and Dix Park Conservancy about park news, community engagement, opportunities to support the park, as well as upcoming programs and events. Participants can unsubscribe at any time.