Perseid Meteors Fly Tonight

Annual Perseid shower should be dazzling

(NEWSER) - Your local weather permitting, the annual Perseid meteor shower should light up the skies in the wee hours tonight, reports the Christian Science Monitor . The usual caveats apply—like the further you can get from the lights of the big city, the better your show. Best bet is to start checking after midnight, but for specifics, the CSM points to this nifty tool from NASA in which you can plug in the biggest nearby city for peak viewing times. And if you miss tonight, try again tomorrow night. More»

International Space Station is flying by, too

(NEWSER) - Light show! The Perseid meteor shower is back, and peak viewing will be overnight tonight and into the predawn hours of tomorrow, reports Space.com . Drawback: A full moon will probably dim this year's show. Bonus to make up for that drawback: The International Space Station also should be visible over the next week before dawn. For specifics in particular areas, see NASA's Human Space Flight site . More»

Unique opportunity for viewing Quadrantids

(NEWSER) - The most exciting space show of 2008 might well be the Quadrantid meteor shower's peak at 1:40 a.m. EST tomorrow, Space.com reports. Though factors such as moonlight and weather usually obscure the annual spectacle, a rural observer this year may see one or two shooting stars per minute. Eastern North America and Western Europe are prime viewing positions. More»

Geminids will benefit from a moonless night

(NEWSER) - This week's incarnation of the annual Geminid meteor shower should be particularly awe-inspiring, reports National Geographic, because it coincides with dark, moonless sky for the first time since 1996. Skywatchers can expect at least 110 meteors per minute, with the best viewing on Thursday and Friday. The peak will be on Friday at 11:45pm EST. More»

(NEWSER) - Comet debris will light up the sky tomorrow night and Monday morning with shooting stars as Earth passes through the Perseid meteor shower. For the best view, pick a dark spot away from city lights and look east, says the Discovery Channel. "It's going to be a great show," a NASA expert advises. The showers will start around 9 PM EDT tomorrow night and peak at 2 AM Monday morning. More»