In this photo released by SkyandTelescope.com a Perseid meteor flashes across the constellation Andromeda on Aug. 12, 1997, in this 8-minute exposure taken in Florence Junction, Ariz.Four nights of stellar viewing are in store starting Friday and concluding in the predawn hours of Tuesday when the Perseid meteor shower fills the late-night sky. Three free events are planned this weekend for stargazers.
• Today, Aug. 8: Clarence T. Jones Observatory, 10 Tuxedo Ave., 7 p.m. Dr. Amy Lovell gives presentation on what radio astronomy has to offer and reviews recent results from spectral line observations of comets and thermal observations of asteroids. 423-425-4518.
• Friday-Saturday, Aug. 9-10: Fall Creek Falls State Park, 2009 Village Camp Road, Pikeville, Tenn. Meet at state park’s inn at 6:30 p.m. to catch shuttle to observation field. Basic astronomy program at 7 p.m. followed by telescope viewing, sponsored by the Cumberland Astronomical Society (all times are Central). Free. www.cumberlandastronomicalsociety.org.
• Saturday, Aug. 10: Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga., 8-11 p.m. Friends of Cloudland Canyon State Park and Barnard Astronomical Society sponsor video at 8 p.m., followed by viewing of the night sky. Telescopes provided. Admission is free, but parking is $5. 706-398-2729.