
Optimal viewing will be outside city limits where less light will make display easier to enjoy.
Forecasters are looking to the northeastern skies this week for an excellent prospect of viewing the Perseids meteor shower.
The effect of the 'showers' arrives every year when the earth passes through the debris field of broken asteroid pieces.These pieces collide without atmosphere, then disintegrate causing the fiery streaks across the sky.
According to the NASA website:"Perseids is considered the best meteor shower of the year. With swift and bright meteors, Perseids frequently leave long "wakes" of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth's atmosphere. The Perseids are one of the most plentiful showers with about 50 to 100 meteors seen per hour. They occur with warm summer nighttime weather allowing sky watchers to comfortably view them."
The showers get their name from the constellation from which they appear to derive - Perseus.
Peak times are expected on the 12th and 13th, with excellent viewing times between 2-3 am. However, astronomers say the moon will be at its brightest so that may impact the ability to see the showers fully. It’s recommended that you find a dark location away from city lights, with a clear view of the sky, ideally looking to the northeast.