How and when to watch the upcoming Perseid meteor shower

The Perseid Meteor Shower Will Put on Quite the Show This Weekend The Perseid Meteor Shower is making its annual return on August 10 through 13. Astrophysicist Ethan Siegel says it will be the best and brightest display that has been put on by the meteor shower in recent years. Named after the Perseus constellation, the Perseid meteor shower occurs every August when the Earth passes through the Swift-Tuttle comet debris. Bill Cooke, NASA meteor expert, to Space.com To get the best view, head somew

The Perseid meteor shower, which occurs every August because of debris left behind from Comet Swift-Tuttle, began in July, but it peaks soon.

According to Space.com, you should make plans to stay up late Aug. 11 or wake up early the12th. You might see stragglers as late as Aug. 18. The Perseids are best seen from midnight to just before dawn.

At peak in 2018, meteors raced at rates of about 60-70 meteors per hour. In 2016, we witnessed a whopping 150-200 per hour. This year, stargazers will get a chance to see 50-100 fast, bright meteors per hour for a single observer.

“The Perseids are rich in bright meteors and fireballs, so it will still be worth going out in the early morning to catch some of nature’s fireworks,” according to NASA.

When to see the Perseid meteor shower

Meteors streak above the Wyoming countryside early Tuesday morning north of Cheyenne in this time-elapsed photo. The past couple nights were the peak of the Perseids Meteor Shower, which run from mid-July through mid-August. The shower, which gets its name from the constellation, Persus, are the remants from the comet Swift-Tuttle, which last past through in 1992 and won't pass by again until the year 2125. (AP Photo/The Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Blaine McCartney) (Blaline McCartney)

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You’ll be able to catch the popular meteor shower as Earth passes through the path of Comet Swift-Tuttle from late July until late August, but if you want to best views, it’s all about catching it at peak time: between 2 a.m. local time through predawn hours Aug. 11-12.

This year’s Perseids will be slightly affected by a 53% waxing moon, NASA states, but the moon will set as the Perseids begin to peak. That means anyone in an area without light pollution might be able to see quite a few meteors.

(Photo by Ali Ihsan Ozturk/(Anadolu Agency)/Getty Images) (Anadolu Agency)

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In Atlanta, Active Junky advises city dwellers in or near bright buildings, traffic and other sources of light pollution, to travel to the following areas:

Stephen C. Foster State Park

17515 Highway 177, Fargo 31631

Drive time from metro Atlanta: 4½ hours

This Okefenokee Swamp park was voted one of the best spots in the world for star gazing by the International Dark Sky Association for its vast skies and minimal light pollution.

The remote Georgia park is perfect for viewing all things celestial, including the famed Perseids.

Make your reservations at one of the park’s 64 campsites.

North Georgia mountains

The beautiful mountains in northeast Georgia make for ideal campgrounds during the Perseid shower.

Some popular campgrounds near the mountains can be found at Moccasin Creek State Park and Cooper’s Creek Recreational Area.

Moccasin Creek State Park

3655 Georgia Highway 197, Clarkesville 30523

Drive time from metro Atlanta: Less than 2 hours

Make reservations at one of Moccasin Creek's 54 campsites.

Cooper’s Creek Recreational Area

6050 Appalachian Highway, Suches 30572

Drive time from metro Atlanta: Approximately 2 hours

Campgrounds are first-come, first-served.

Best practices

Dark and vast skies are essentially all you need to take in the sights of the Perseid meteor shower.

With peaks during overnight hours, you may also want to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on, a snack and water, and some bug spray.