The public is invited to experience the peak of the Perseid meteor shower at the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site, Cooperstown, during “Missile Site Lights.” This free, three-hour viewing event begins at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, and continues until 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13.

Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy the skies as site lighting is turned off for optimal viewing. At 10 p.m., Valley City State University Planetarium Director Wes Anderson will share the science behind meteor showers and guide stargazers through the night sky. A telescope will be available for a closer look at the moon and any visible planets.

Early missile targeting once relied on celestial alignment, the dark sky conditions of the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site make it an ideal location for this annual spectacle. Staff will assist with directing parking.

For more information, contact Site Supervisor Rob Branting, 701.797.3691 or shsoscar0@nd.gov. The Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site is managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Summer hours are daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Sept. 1. Find additional programs sponsored by the State Historical Society of North Dakota at history.nd.gov/events.