4

Find a Dark Spot

The Moon is not your only meteor enemy, and you sure don’t want to have the shower outshone any further than necessary. Get away from cities and suburbs if possible. Consider booking a cheap motel in the mountains or along a highway away from major cities.

Last year, I drove my family around for hours in the farmland of Maryland on the afternoon prior to the peak until we found a motel (actually, a bare bones hunting lodge) that was outside a small town. The accommodations were awful, and that alone gave the kids an experience they’ll never forget. More important, the only obstruction to our view of the entire sky was the lodge itself, which conveniently blocked the only two nearby streetlights.

If you stay home, turn off porch and house lights. The darker your surroundings, the more meteors you’ll see. And don’t ruin your vision with flashlights!

• Leonids Special Report: Full Forecast, Photos and More

How to make sure you don’t miss the show entirely, in Tip #5 …