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Free stargazing in the park in Miami-Dade

Look up!: The Perseids Meteor Shower is upon us! From Aug. 11 to 14, thousands of shooting stars can be seen at the rate of 100-150 per hour.

The popular and free Southern Cross Observation Deck has re-opened in Miami-Dade at Bill Sadowski Park. The public is invited to visit with amateur astronomers from 7:30 to 10 p.m. each Saturday through the end of 2023, weather permitting.

A sense of wonder and discovery draws our eyes to the night sky.

When you gaze up at the night sky, you are looking at billions of stars and other celestial objects that are millions or even billions of light-years away. It is a truly awe-inspiring experience to contemplate the vastness of the universe and our place in it.

So, grab your telescopes and binoculars, chairs, family, friends, colleagues, students, and take some bug repellent, but no lights, alcohol or pets, please.

What to expect:

The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower as they peak on warm August nights as seen from the northern hemisphere through Sept. 1, 2023. Peak meteor shower activity is expected to be the night of Aug. 12-13. On this night, the moon will be only 10% full. For more details on this and other stargazer happenings, visit scas.org.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Note: Please dim headlights at the Park entrance at Southwest 176th Street and Southwest 79th Avenue, a half-mile west of Old Cutler Road, Palmetto Bay 33157. The small parking lot is near the deck.

The park address is 17555 SW 79th Ave., Palmetto Bay. For more information, email mail@scas.org or follow the Southern Cross Astronomical Society on FaceBook.

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Mary Lou Cruz

About Mary Lou Cruz

I worked at the South Florida Sun Sentinel for 21 years, as an Advertising Special Sections Writer; Editorial Systems Editor in Technology; and Editorial Assistant in the Newsroom. Before my newspaper career, I worked in the airline and travel industry and I have lived in Brazil, Puerto Rico and vacationed in more than 25 countries. Originally, I'm from Maryland. I moved to Florida in 1984 and raised my daughter in Miami. Email: events@SouthFloridaOnTheCheap.com.

Living on the CheapMiami on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.

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