From mid-July until late August, the Earth passes through the debris of the Swift-Tuttle comet. The Perseid meteor shower starts to peak around the 10th, and the overnight hours into the 13th this year is promised to be your best chance to catch sight of a falling star: about 50 should be lighting up the sky per hour, but in rural areas with little light pollution you could see over 120 per hour.
Combine that with a clear forecast and a nearly new moon (the new moon is on the 14th) and this year’s Perseids are a celestial event not to be missed!
For those in Delaware wondering where to watch the Perseid meteor shower: Brandywine Creek State Park is staying open late; you can get those details here. I’ll be laying on the beach for the show, myself; check out my tips for viewing and photographing a meteor shower.
Know of any other local spots for prime meteor viewing? Let us know in the comments.