Jane Sathe | Aug 13, 2025 | The Daily Progress: Read the article here (or scroll down)

This Friday, the UVa Department of Astronomy will be hosting Comet Con 2025 at Albemarle CiderWorks during the Perseid meteor shower

Spectators look forward to glimpsing the annual Perseid meteor shower because of the fireballs that emblazon the mid-August skies with vivid light and color. The University of Virginia Department of Astronomy team presenting Friday's Comet Con 2025 looks forward to having the inaugural event at Albemarle CiderWorks because the skies there are dark enough to make meteor-gazing more fun.

And if your idea of gazing into the past involves cathode ray tubes and vintage video games played on historically correct equipment, just head indoors to join Super Bit Cville for some serious Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis nostalgia. Admission to Comet Con 2025 is free, and the festivities will continue rain or shine. Just keep in mind that even though the meteor show still will be there, its visibility will depend
on the evening's weather conditions. Accessibility is part of the Perseids popularity, said Edward Murphy, associate chairman of the UVa Department of Astronomy. All you really need to do to enjoy the show is "face the northeast and look up" "You don't need any telescopes or binoculars"  Murphy told The Daily Progress. "It occurs at a time of year when people can lie on a blanket." The best time to see themeteoric marvels is between 2 and 4 a.m., which gives night owls an advantage.

Dark skies and cooperative moon phases make meteor-watching events more successful. Friday's moon will remain at 84% full, offering some competition, but deep-rural Albemarle County skies can offer a remarkable backdrop. At the cidery, "all you need are a blanket and some bug spray," Whitney Wills Richardson, the Astronomy Department's fiscal administrator and outreach coordinator, told The Daily Progress. "We really appreciate Albemarle CiderWorks. They have a really dark site. It's a great place to go."

Friday's event may end up being as educational as it is entertaining. Astronomers will be on hand to answer questions about meteors, planets and the equipment used to view them in finer detail. And experiencing Sonic, Mario and other old-school video game favorites on the equipment generations past used will answer a lot of questions about them that you've never really had the courage to ask.

Those that find themselves hooked on telescope time after Friday's event should mark their calendars for Sept. 20 to head back to the cidery for the UVa Department of Astronomy's 15th annual Star Party. The party, suitable for all ages, will add a traveling planetarium to the stargazing mix.