Look up: The Perseid meteor shower is here

Key Points:

• The Perseid meteor shower, one of the year's most popular astronomical events, will peak from August 12 to 13, offering skywatchers a chance to see up to 100 meteors per hour under clear, dark skies.
• This year's Perseids are expected to be particularly impressive due to the peak coinciding with a new moon, which will result in darker skies and improved visibility of meteors and fireballs.
• The meteor shower occurs as Earth passes through debris left by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, with meteors appearing to radiate from the constellation Perseus but visible across much of the night sky.
• The Perseid peak follows a total solar eclipse visible from parts of Greenland, Iceland, and Spain, with a partial solar eclipse also observable in parts of Europe, the U.S., and Canada.
• Experts advise viewing the shower from dark locations away from city lights, allowing eyes to adjust for 20-30 minutes and observing after midnight until dawn for the best chance to see meteors.