Meteor shower activity is usually great around the 8th through 12th of August.

But the big event beginning early August, will be when Mars will be closer to Earth than in the last 5,000 years and will not be as close again for another 60,000 years. The "red planet" will appear to be as large as the full moon and will rise in the east at 10pm, with the greatest proximity occuring on August 27th.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6692779

"Meteor showers can provide us with quite a show, but star trails can be made on any clear night, especially during the absence of a bright moon."

  Cameras with a time exposure setting can be left open, using a tripod for stability and a cable release locked on for periods of time in the darkness when the stars are visible. If you leave the camera pointed toward the north, with the north star showing, you can photograph circular star trails such as shown in some articles on meteors, for 5, 15, 30, 60 minutes - however long you prefer (Capture as many meteor streaks as pass over your camera during that time period). Use a small aperture opening (larger # for your lens opening for best detail) & slide an opaque object like a piece of cardboard above the camera before attempting to open or close the lens with the cable release, so as to avoid squiggly star trails at the beginning or ending of each photograph.

  Similar conventional night photos can be made of snow and holiday lighting with a tripod, using exposures ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes, depending upon aperture size and types of lighting present. Even when just handheld, the light-gathering digital cameras, with or without a flash, will provide an interesting set of results. So, try a variety of settings and of course, with activities of the season, catch some close-ups of people and other fascinating subjects - then have them available along with some of your gathered information to share during some of our future meetings