The Perseid meteor shower are expected to peak overnight Sunday, August 11 into the morning of Monday, August 12. The shower is visible anywhere in the United States, from New York to California, if the weather permits. And the best time to watch the meteor shower will be between 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.
According to the NASA, tonight is the peak of the 2013 Perseid meteor shower, with predicted rates of up to 100 per hour. Perseids may be seen any time after dark, but rates increase throughout the night, peaking between 3-5 a.m. (your local time) on the morning of Monday, Aug. 12.
Every year at this time, the Earth passes through the orbit of a comet called Swift Tuttle, and we see meteors streaking across the night sky as pieces of debris from the comet enter the earth's atmosphere at more than 100,000 mph and burn up.
The best way to see the Perseids is to find a dark patch of sky, lie down and look up. Get away from city lights if you can. The darker your site, the more you will see. You don't have to use a telescope or binoculars. Your eyes are the best tool, because the flash can be anywhere in the sky.
Enjoy your night!
A bright Perseid Meteor cuts across Orion's Belt during the peak of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower. (Wally Pacholka/AP Photo)
