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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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13

Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight

Up to 80 shooting stars visible at height of Perseid shower

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(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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13 comments
VIEWING:
 
Radzyn
Aug 11, 09 4:29 PM CDT
Definitely staying up for this one tonight :) Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+6
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Aug 11, 09 4:42 PM CDT
Ditto
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
Reader60610265
Aug 11, 09 4:47 PM CDT
Me too. Recliner and popcorn Reply
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
peacenique
Aug 11, 09 5:06 PM CDT
Great idea! Recliner and popcorn it is! Life's too short to miss out on celestial fireworks.
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
maryz
Aug 11, 09 8:40 PM CDT
Nothing better! We have lots of light pollution in Atlanta, making visibility tough, but it was a mostly clear day, and we may be lucky! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+2

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