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Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight

Up to 80 shooting stars visible at height of Perseid shower

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 11, 2009 4:05 PM CDT

(Newser) – Stargazers will want to stay up for the peak of the Perseid meteor shower after midnight tonight, Wired reports. The Perseid shower—with up to 80 shooting stars an hour—happens every year when the Earth travels through debris left in the wake of the comet Swift-Tuttle. Best showings will be about 1am and just before dawn, but because of a bright moon, viewers may have better luck looking between 9 and 11 pm (local time wherever you are). Meteors will be less frequent but brighter.

A Perseid Meteor photographed on 8/12/08.
A Perseid Meteor photographed on 8/12/08.   (Flickr)
A Perseid meteor is picture in this undated photo.
A Perseid meteor is picture in this undated photo.   (Flickr)
Perseid meteors fall as a satellite passes across the sky early August 12, 2008, near Rogers Spring in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada.
Perseid meteors fall as a satellite passes across the sky early August 12, 2008, near Rogers Spring in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
zaphod
Aug 12, 2009 9:39 AM CDT
i met my wife 29 years ago and we watched them together that evening
Pragmaticrealism
Aug 12, 2009 4:25 AM CDT
and even better than that if you smoke some herb...
Fondue
Aug 12, 2009 3:38 AM CDT
Too much overcast down here.
 

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