Party with the stars.(Metro)

Byline: Tina Hesman Saey

You don't have to know a single celebrity to have a star party. All you need is a patch of clear, dark sky, some friends, some bug spray and some basic equipment.

Star parties are for watching stars of the astronomy variety. And this weekend, you won't even have to break out the telescope to see a great show. The annual Perseid meteor shower will peak Sunday night into the wee hours of Monday. During the peak, forecasters expect 50 to 80 meteors each hour.

Meteor showers are great events for novice stargazers, said Jen Winter, owner of ICSTARS Astronomy in Warrensburg, Mo. The nonprofit organization hosts a multiday star …