Heads (and eyes) up, skywatchers! The annual Perseid meteor shower is underway and will hit its peak this weekend.
The meteor shower, so named because the meteors appear to come from the constellation Perseus, lasts for several weeks – from July 17 to Aug. 24 – but peak meteor activity will take place between about 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 12 and 4 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 13, according to NASA.
During the peak, one can expect to see as many as 60 or 70 meteors per hour.
Night sky conditions should be great for meteor viewing: The peak coincides perfectly with the new moon, meaning the sky will be plenty dark and meteors will be easy to spot.
