Look up: Perseids meteor shower to peak Aug. 11–13

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The Perseids meteor shower is one of the brightest and most popular meteor showers of the year.

This annual shower remains active from mid-July through late August, but it will peak between Monday, Aug. 11, and Wednesday, Aug. 13, when stargazers can expect to see up to 60 to 100 meteors per hour, weather permitting.

According to NASA, the Perseids meteor shower is caused by Comet Swift-Tuttle. This comet is the largest object known to repeatedly pass near Earth, with a nucleus approximately 16 miles wide.

When looking up during a meteor shower, viewers are watching tiny bits of debris left behind by comets. As these particles enter Earth's atmosphere, they heat up and burn brightly, creating streaks of light across the sky which are commonly called "shooting stars."

These vivid pieces of space debris can travel at speeds of up to 37 miles per second, according to NASA.

The American Meteor Society recommends finding a dark location away from city lights and looking in the opposite direction of the moon for the best visibility. Although the meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, they seem to radiate from the constellation Perseus, located in the northeastern part of the sky.

In St. Joseph, cloud cover may be an issue as rain chances continue through Tuesday. However, the best time for local viewing will likely be late Tuesday night, on Aug. 12, into the early morning hours of Wednesday, Aug. 13, when skies may briefly clear.

To improve your chances of seeing the shower, head to a dark, open area away from city lights.

Allow your eyes to adjust to the dark for at least 20 minutes. Look low on the horizon and scan all quadrants of the sky.

Finally, consider using an app to help locate constellations and track the meteor shower.

Whether you're an avid stargazer or just looking for a moment of wonder, the Perseids are a great reason to step outside, look up, and make a wish.