The Leonids

Surf the sky
Head to the northernmost tip of Manhattan, where the Inwood Astronomy Project’s Jason Kendall will host a viewing in Inwood Hill Park (Payson and Beak Sts; 917-529-2359, inwoodastronomy.org; Tue 17 at 9pm, free). Telescopes will be available for ogling the Leonids, but Kendall recommends toting your own seating: “[Bring] a chair where you can lean back and look up—a beach lounge chair is best.” Inclement weather may affect his plans, so confirm the day of.

Satisfy your inner astronomer
The historic Floyd Bennett Field (50 Aviation Rd near Flatbush Ave, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn; 718-338-3799; field closes at dusk, call ahead for permission to be there after hours) is one of the darkest spots in the city, according to local astronomers (the Amateur Astronomers Association meets here regularly), making it an ideal location for gazing at the night sky. An after-hours permit ($50 per year) is required for stargazers; contact the visitor’s center to arrange your trip.

Heed the call of the wild
Gear to Go Outfitters (meet at 15th St and Union Sq West, 917-301-8238; 1:30–9:30pm, $54.95) will lead a leisurely hiking expedition to the Hudson Highlands, where you’ll get an unobstructed view of the meteors from a mountaintop. The trip includes transportation, head lamps and dinner, and it’s also a good opportunity to go on a trek without panicking that your journey will devolve into some kind of David Lynch–ian fantasy. “[Night hiking] is an activity that many people would love to try but are nervous about doing on their own,” says GTG organizer Kevin Rosenberg. Still, you might want to hold off on your Twin Peaks re-viewing until after the showers sparkle and fade.

The showers will likely peak for a few hours between 4:30 and 6pm, then continue more slowly through the evening.

“On a clear night, we would see streaks of light passing overhead,” says Richard Rosenberg, president of the Amateur Astronomers Association. “Out in the country, they look like fireflies.”

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