See the Perseids meteor shower peak tonight (August 12)!
The Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight, August 12! The meteors are particles left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle. The bright moon will wash out much of the show but you could still spot ten to 15 an hour depending on where you are. Watch the skies! From NASA's Perseids page:
How to Observe PerseidsIf it's not cloudy, pick an observing spot away from bright lights, lay on your back, and look up! You don't need any special equipment to view the Perseids - just your eyes. (Note that telescopes or binoculars are not recommended.) Meteors can generally be seen all over the sky so don't worry about looking in any particular direction.
While observing this month, not all of the meteors you'll see belong to the Perseid meteor shower. Some are sporadic background meteors. And some are from other weaker showers also active right now, including the Alpha Capricornids, the Southern Delta Aquariids, and the Kappa Cygnids. How can you tell if you've seen a Perseid? If you see a meteor try to trace it backwards. If you end up in the constellation Perseus, there's a good chance you've seen a Perseid. If finding constellations isn't your forte, then note that Perseids are some of the fastest meteors you'll see!
Pro tip: Remember to let your eyes become adjusted to the dark (it takes about 30 minutes) - you'll see more meteors that way. Try to stay off of your phone too, as looking at devices with bright screens will negatively affect your night vision and hence reduce the number of meteors you see!
image: "In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, in Spruce Knob, West Virginia." (NASA/Bill Ingalls)