Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Amid Bright Moonlight

"...Skywatchers are in for a treat..."

"...Famous for its typically high volume of swift, bright meteors..."

"...These burning space rocks leave long streaks of colorful light across the night sky in their wake..."

"...The Perseids’ ability to produce fireballs is due to large chunks of material falling from the comet Swift-Tuttle..."

"...The interaction between that debris and our atmosphere is what causes the Perseids..."

"...The August full Moon—also known as the Sturgeon Moon—rises on Saturday, August 9..."

"...That means that while it won’t be completely full when the Perseids peak, it will still be bright enough to blot out some of the falling meteors..."

"...The number one rule of skywatching is to create the darkest conditions possible..."

"...You can’t change the brightness of a near-full Moon, but you can take advantage of the shadows it casts..."

"...Instead of standing out in the open, choose a spot in the shadow of a tree or building—just make sure it doesn’t obstruct your view..."

"...This will block out the moonlight and make it easier to spot shooting stars..."

"...It’s also important to select a viewing location far from sources of light pollution..."

"...The more rural your spot, the more meteors you’ll see..."

"...Looking at a smartphone, laptop, or tablet can affect your vision, too, so put them away and enjoy the view..."

"...Even under a bright Moon, the best time of night to see shooting stars is between midnight and pre-dawn..."

"...This is when the sky is darkest and the Perseid shower is most active..."

"...During these hours, Earth is positioned so that you are on its leading side..."

"...This allows you to watch meteors as they come straight at the planet..."

"...The Perseid shower is especially visible in the northern hemisphere because its radiant—the point in the sky from which its meteors appear to originate—is somewhat north on the sky’s dome..."

"...While the shooting stars are actually falling from the comet Swift-Tuttle, they look to our eyes like they come from the constellation Perseus, hence the name..."

"...You don’t have to stare directly at the radiant to see them, however..."

"...In fact, the ideal place to look is 45 degrees away from this point..."

"...The shower will remain active through the end of August, but is most dazzling in mid-August..."

"...And if you don’t manage to catch the Perseids, don’t fret..."

"...Another meteor shower is just around the corner: The Geminids, which also occur annually, will take place under moonless conditions in December..."