From dusk to dawn, here’s your chance to see one of the year’s better meteor showers in the company of astronomy buffs, at one of two locations.

The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh hosts a pair of events to witness the Perseid meteors with the naked eye. One’s at Mingo Creek Park Observatory, in Finleyville, the other at Wagman Observtory hilltop, Deer Lakes Park, in Tarentum.

Both events run from 9 p.m. tonight until dawn tomorrow. At Mingo Creek, at least, AAAP members will be on hand to help explain the phenomenon.

Visitors are welcome to bring a lawn chair, chaise lounge or blanket to watch the sky from the lawn. Families are welcome, and so are snacks (but no alcohol or smoking on observatory grounds).

Both events are free, but donations are welcome.

The Mingo Creek session also heralds this weekend’s Star Party there. The AAAP is marking the 10th anniversary of the observatory with a Star Party on Friday and, on Saturday, a Star Party and anniversary celebration.

On both nights, the event starts with safe solar viewing at 5:30 p.m., and also includes lectures and a chance to see the rings of Saturn and much more through the observatory’s 24-inch optical guidance systems reflector and 10-inch refractor.

Mingo Creek Observatory is located at 1 Shelter 10 Road, in Finleyville.

Wagman Observatory hill is located at 225 Kurn Road, in Tarentum.

To learn more, see here.