Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend

This weekend the Perseid meteor shower will be reaching its peak and can be observed by those who rise early or those willing to stay up all night.

Where's the best place to watch a meteor shower in your neighborhood? Any astronomy enthusiasts out there? Let us know in the comments!

This year, the shower peaks on Saturday and coincides with the full moon, which will make observing the shooting stars difficult. However, catching a glimpse of the light show will not be impossible and the best opportunity to do so will be during the predawn hours of Saturday morning. To observe the shower, you will want to get to the viewing spot of your choosing by at least 4:30 a.m., when the full moon will be low enough to witness the celestial event. Try to move as far away as possible from any city lights.

Fast Facts

• The annual meteor shower is caused by the cloud of the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 133 years.
• As the Earth passes through the cloud of debris, bits of ice and dirt—some as old as a 1000 years—burn up in earth's atmosphere, causing the celestial event commonly known as a meteor shower.
• Expect to see about 20-30 meteors per hour, weather permitting.
• The Perseid meteor shower has been observed for close to 2000 years and peaks sometime during the summer months.

For those who wish to view the show live from the comfort of home, NASA will activate cameras and a chat module during the shower's peak that will allow participants to ask questions from experts as they view the Perseid's meteor shower live. The cameras are set to go online at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday.