The evening of Saturday, August 11, and the morning of Sunday, August 12, 2012, are the best times to see the Perseid meteor shower, but the show will continue for many nights afterwards. (times corrected on 8/11)
And, while you are catching possibly the best meteor shower of the 2012 year, also take a look at some of the brightest planets in the solar system, and the Moon, too.
As the Earth passes through the debris field from the comet Swift-Tuttle, you'll be seeing the Perseid meteors, possibly as many as 100 per hour.
Bill Cooke, who is with NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, says, "We expect to see meteor rates as high as a hundred per hour. The Perseids always put on a good show." [SpaceWeather.com]
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While looking, Jupiter, Venus, and the crescent Moon will also be in the night sky. They will be in the eastern sky before sunrise on the nights of August 11, 12, and 13.
The YouTube video (as seen above) is from NASA. It is called ScienceCasts: The 2012 Perseid Meteor Shower. Its caption is "The Perseid meteor shower is underway. There's more to see than meteors, however, when the shower peaks on August 11th through 13th. The brightest planets in the solar system are lining up in the middle of the display." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=106ne66KAuw)
The NASA Science article 2012 Perseid Meteor Shower states, "On August 11th, a 33% crescent Moon will glide by Jupiter, temporarily forming a bright pair directly above brilliant Venus. Red-giant star Aldebaran will be there, too, adding a splash of color to the gathering."
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