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Science
Josie Fischels, NPR

The 'best meteor shower of the year' is happening. Here's how you can see it

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A Perseid meteor streaks across the sky above desert pine trees in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Nevada. The annual display, known as the Perseid shower because the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus in the northeastern sky, is a result of Earth's orbit passing through debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle.
A Perseid meteor streaks across the sky above desert pine trees in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area in Nevada. The annual display, known as the Perseid shower because the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus in the northeastern sky, is a result of Earth's orbit passing through debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle.
Ethan Miller | Getty Images

The Perseid meteor shower is upon us, and will fill the night sky with streaks of light and color until Aug. 24.

Known as the "best meteor shower of the year" by NASA because of its fast, bright and plentiful meteors that can be easily viewed outside during the warm summer months, the shower is not one to be missed. It will peak around Aug. 12, where up to 100 meteors an hour can be caught shooting across the sky at 37 miles per second, leaving long streaks in their wake.

Here's how you can see it.

Perseid meteor showers are known for their 'fireballs'

The Perseid shower happens when Earth makes its way through the trail of cosmic debris left behind by 109PSwift-Tuttle — a comet that won't return to the inner solar system until 2125.

The meteors are known for their fireballs, and viewers can expect to see larger, brighter explosions of light and color in the sky that will appear for longer than a typical meteor streak.

The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, their namesake, but finding the constellation is not necessary to view the shower — they will appear all over the sky.

Pick a spot with a clear, dark sky

For best viewing, NASA says to stay up late the night of Aug. 11. Alternatively, waking up extra early on Aug. 12 will also do the trick, as the shower's peak occurs in the pre-dawn hours. If the sky is clear and free of light pollution, the meteors can be clearly seen all across the Northern Hemisphere sky without the help of equipment. NASA recommends not looking at your phone while watching so your eyes adjust more easily to the dark.

You can use NASA's meteor calculator and the International Dark Sky Association's dark sky finder to find the best viewing spot for you.

Not a clear night? Not an early riser? Meteors can also be seen as early as 10 p.m. on any night the shower is happening before or after the peak, just likely fewer in number.

Josie Fischels is an intern on NPR's News Desk.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.