How To Host a Meteor Shower Watch Party (Before Dawn)

Summer is the perfect time to head outside and watch for meteors in the night sky.

In addition to the meteor showers that occur every Summer, you also have a chance to see the International Space Station (ISS) and my family’s favorite – iridium flares.

Watching the night sky alone is enjoyable, but it’s even more fun when you share the experience with others! A perfect excuse for a meteor watching party!

While most people plan their watch parties in the evenings, most meteor showers put on their best show after midnight, and in the early morning before dawn.

This article will give you ideas for hosting your own Meteor Shower Watch Party – before dawn – with your friends and family. A morning that won’t soon be forgotten!

Watching meteors

Determine the Date

While you can look up most any night and spot a meteor or two (also known as shooting stars), when you’re inviting guests to watch with you, it’s best to plan your watch party around the peak dates and times of known meteor showers.

The website EarthSky Tonight is a good resource you can use to find dates for upcoming meteor showers.

You can also use the list at the bottom of this article for the dates of the most popular annual meteor showers to help you plan your watch party.

TIP: The Perseids (my favorite meteor shower, because they often have fireballs) peaks on August 11 and 12, 2023, with the best chance to see them the early morning of August 11 or 12. Don’t miss them! Start planning your pre-dawn watch party now!

Determine the Time

As I mentioned above, early morning viewing hours are usually when you’re going to see the most spectacular meteors. I highly recommend you choose a start time after midnight and before 4:30 a.m. Yes, I know. It can be hard to get guests to want to arrive at that time, but trust me – it’s worth it!

TIP: We have our guests arrive at 1:00 a.m. and stay for an after-party breakfast at dawn.

Determine the Location

Location! Location! Location! It’s true! Where you have your party can have a big impact on the success of seeing meteors. Here are some ideas for locations.

• Away from the City – It’s always best to select a location away from city lights. Some of the brighter meteors, such as the Perseids, can be seen in the city.  But just a short drive outside the city and suburbs can really make the difference in how many meteors you can spot.
• Wide Open Countryside – If you live in a wide-open rural area, hosting the meteor watch party at your house is the most convenient option. If you have a cabin in a remote area, that can also be a good place for your party – as long as you have a wide field of view.
• Lakeside Country Park – Another idea is to meet in a public park near a lake or in a rural area. When you’re near a lake, you have the added benefit of a more open sky with less trees blocking your view.
• Country Road – If you prefer, you could have your friends and family form a caravan and follow each other out to a secluded country road in a rural area, and set up the view portion of your party there.
• On a Lake – If you are fortunate enough to have a boat or pontoon, head out onto a lake – you’ll have a nearly unrestricted view of the entire sky! Except for lakes that are in the heart of a big city, most lakes don’t have many bright lights that restrict visibility of the dark night sky. Find a secluded cove and anchor, or just drift.

Viewing Area Preparation

Wherever you decide to host your party, you’ll want to prepare the viewing area to make your guests comfortable.

Seating

• Reclining Lawn Chairs – Chairs that recline make for very comfortable viewing. If you don’t have enough for all your guests, you could ask your guests to bring their own camp chairs.
• Blankets and Pillows – Instead of chairs, you could also spread blankets or sleeping bags out on the lawn for your guests to use, or have them bring their own blankets. Keep in mind that the grass might be wet with dew, so plan your blanket choices accordingly. A plastic tarp under a blanket provides a good moisture barrier.

Keep Warm

• Blankets and/or Jackets – It can get a little chilly in the early morning hours. It’s best to make sure your guests bring a jacket to stay warm, and extra blankets to cover up with. Provide plenty of towels or blankets to place on lawn chairs for guests to sit/lay on too – you get chilled quickly when your back side gets cold!
• Hot Beverages – Pack several thermoses filled with Hot Cocoa and Coffee. Don’t forget the cups!
• Light a fire – Gathering around a low campfire gives guests the opportunity to warm up if they want. Just make sure to keep the fire low so it isn’t too bright – sorry, no bonfires at a Meteor Shower Watch Party!

Keep Bugs Away

• Bug Spray – Don’t forget the bug spray! There can be a lot of pesky bugs when you’re laying on the ground or sitting in the tall grass along a country road. You don’t want the bugs to spoil your party!

Ambiance

Depending on the location of your watch party, you can enhance the viewing area with a few small touches that add to the ambiance of the morning. Here are some ideas to consider.

• Lighting – While you definitely want the viewing area to be dark, you also want to make sure your guests are safe. Setting out mason jars with votive candles in them can mark a path from your home to your viewing area and can also shed a little bit of light around where you’re sitting. If you have to use a flashlight to light your way, make sure to tape a piece of red cellophane or plastic over the lens so you don’t distort your night-vision. As mentioned previously, a low campfire can provide good ambient light without lighting up the sky.
• Snack and Beverage Table – If you have the space to set up a small table, you could add a candle or two to the table and set out your Hot Cocoa and Coffee thermoses, cups, a variety of breakfast donuts and napkins, and maybe even fresh fruit with small serving bowls and picks.

Activities

• Iridium Flares – We love watching for iridium flares! Iridium flares are very bright flashes of light in the night sky caused by the sunlight bouncing off the iridium panels on the satellites. When the satellites are at just the right position in the sky, you can see the flares occur as the satellite spins. It’s really a strange sight. I highly recommend that while you’re watching for meteors, see if you can spot iridium flares.
  NOTE: Starting in 2018, iridium satellites are being de-orbited and are being replaced with satellites made of other materials. There are still iridium satellites out there, but soon they will be a thing of the past. Make sure you keep your eyes open for them before you lose the chance to spot them .
• Make a Wish – Instead of making a wish upon a star, make a wish upon the first meteor you spot! Don’t be afraid to share your wish with your friends.
• Use a Telescope or Binoculars – If you have a telescope or a pair of binoculars, bring them outside to your viewing area and let your guests use them. It’s amazing to look at the night sky with magnification! See if you can spot Venus at dawn, look deep into the Milky Way, and zoom into the Moon (assuming the Moon is out at the time).

Guide to the Night Sky

While you’re watching for meteors, you can be sure someone is going to ask “What’s that constellation?” or “Which planet is that?”. Unless you really know your way around the night sky, you might want to consider downloading a night sky app to your phone or tablet. The apps that have augmented reality make them really easy to use, and they are fun!

Here are some suggestions for night sky apps.

• Night Sky – This app has long been one of my favorites. You can download it here on the Night Sky website. This app has augmented reality, so when you hold your phone up in your yard, you’ll see the actual horizon from your yard, along with the star map overall. This is a feature-rich app, and is one I highly recommend. Available for iOS.
• StarWalk 2 – This is another awesome app for viewing the night sky. There are links to download the app on the StarWalk2 website. Available for iOS, Android, Android Free, and Windows 10.
• SkyGuide – This app is very easy to use. It isn’t as feature-rich as the other two apps, but it is easier to use.  You can download the app through the SkyGuide website. Available for iOS.

If you want to find out if the ISS or iridium flares will be passing overhead during your watch party, you can find that information through the Heavens Above website. Just click on ISS Interactive 3D Visualization or Iridium Flares from the menu of links. This website also has a lot of other helpful tools to help you identify night sky objects.

After-Party Breakfast

When the sun starts coming up at dawn, it’s time to head inside for an after-party breakfast!

An easy breakfast to make for guests is an egg bake – served with orange juice, and fresh fruit.

You can prepare the egg bake the evening of your watch party, and refrigerate it until it’s time to put it in the oven. Sneak inside about an hour before dawn and pop the egg bake in the oven. When your watch party is over, the egg bake is ready to serve. Yum!

TIP: If you’ll be hosting your meteor watch party away from home, you can freeze the prepared (uncooked) egg bake the night before. Then when you head out for your party, put the egg bake in the oven and set the oven timer to start 40 minutes before you return. The egg casserole will have time to thaw in the oven before the oven turns on, and the egg bake will be ready by the time you return to your house.

While I’m sure you have your own favorite recipe for an egg bake, here’s one I’ve made and served several times, with rave reviews.

Apple Sausage Cheddar Egg Bake

Serves: 12
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Bake Time: 30-40 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 2 packages (12 ounces each) Johnsonville Original Breakfast Sausage Links
• 1 can (21 ounces) Apple Pie Filling with More Fruit
• 2 medium Apples, peeled and chopped (about 2 cups)
• 2 cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese (8 ounces)
• 1-1/2 cups Original Bisquick Mix
• 1-1/2 cups Milk
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/8 teaspoon Pepper
• 6 Eggs

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 375-degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Spray 13×9-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.
3. Cook sausage in skillet over medium-high for 5 to 7 minutes, breaking up with spoon. Cook until no longer pink, then drain.
4. Add sausage to prepared baking dish, then stir in pie filling and apple chunks. Spread mixture evenly in baking dish.
5. Top ingredients with 1 cup shredded cheese.
6. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Top with remaining 1 cup shredded cheese, then bake another 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted.
8. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Most Popular Annual Meteor Showers

Quadrantids

Last week in December to first two weeks in January. Seen coming from the constellation Bootes, which is near the Big Dipper.

Lyrids

Mid to late April. Radiates from the constellation Lyra.

Eta Aquarids

Late April, early May. Originates from the constellation Aquarius. Remnants from Halley’s Comet.

Perseids

Mid August. Radiant point is the constellation Perseus. Remnants from the Swift-Tuttle comet.

Draconids

First two weeks of October. Radiates from the constellation Draco the Dragon.

Orionids

Third week of October. Radiates from the constellation Orion. Remnants from Halley’s Comet.

Leonids

Mid November. Radiates from the constellation Leo. Remnants from Tempel-Tuttle.

Geminids

First two weeks of December. Radiates from the constellation Gemini. The only meteor shower not associated with a comet, but with an asteroid.

Ursids

Third week of December. Radiates from the constellation Ursa Minor.

So there you have it! Start planning your Pre-Dawn Meteor Shower Watch Party today, and have FUN!