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
Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight
A Perseid Meteor photographed on 8/12/08.   (Flickr)

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.
(More meteor shower stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X