There is another celestial show, and this one is going on right now. The Perseid meteor shower started mid-July and will go on through Aug. 24. It peaks this weekend.
The moon's phase at waning gibbous will prevent us from seeing a big chunk of the light streamers, but this is one of the most active meteor showers of the year. On average at its peak, we could see 30-40 meteors per hour.
They’re called Perseid because they seem to originate from the constellation Perseus.
Last year's new moon helped the Perseid excel with 200 meteors an hour.
The Perseid occurs because the Earth just grazes the edge of the Swift-Tuttle debris stream in space.
Optimal viewing is between midnight and dawn, but best a couple of hours before sunrise. Make sure to look north and stay away from city lights. Be patient and allow your eyes to get used to the darkness. It can take them 30 minutes to adjust, and make sure you are able to see lots of sky.
By the way, if you hear a rumor that the 2017 Perseid will be the brightest in 96 years, do not believe it – it was a meme that started in Facebook at the end of July and has really taken off.
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