Look Up! Perseid Meteor Shower Begins Tonight!

This week's nights will be lit by the best meteor shower of the summer.

Every year during the end of July and most of August, the Earth passes through the path of Comet Swift-Tuttle and its debris. The debris pieces move into our upper atmosphere lighting up the sky.

The 2015 Perseid meteor shower will probably feature a good show in the predawn hours of August 11, 12, 13 and 14, with the show going to the morning of August 13.

In order to see the meteor shower you should try to stay away from sources of light pollution such as the city and keep in mind that it takes 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the sky. Also, find an open sky such as the beach because the show will be in all directions.

Are you wondering where to look?  If you trace all the Perseid meteors backward, they all seem to come from the constellation Perseus the Hero, which is where it gets its name as the Perseid Meteor Shower. The location of this in the sky should be just to the northeast and a little bit into the sky. As the night goes on this will move more to the east and higher into the sky.

So tonight, and the upcoming nights, don't forget to enjoy summer's annual Perseid Meteor Shower! Grab a lounge chair and a camera and relax in the cool open air for the natural light show.

Additional Reporting by Kiah Heron