Perseid meteor shower has begun: How to see shooting stars
The annual Perseid meteor shower — often one of the best of the year — has begun and will peak the night of Aug. 12.
One of the best meteor showers of the year is underway, offering a chance to see shooting stars in the summer night sky.
The annual Perseid meteor shower kicked off Sunday and will last through late August. This year’s shower will peak the night of Aug. 12, into early morning on Aug. 13.
The Perseid meteor shower is typically one of the most dramatic because it produces bright meteors at a high hourly rate. At the shower's peak, skywatchers could see as many as 100 per hour from dark locations (weather permitting).
The shower’s timing during summer in the Northern Hemisphere makes it a popular event because the skywatching can be enjoyed in warm conditions.
Meteors are often called “shooting stars,” but the celestial display comes from small bits of debris in space that burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
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