Perseid Meteor Shower

Get your wishes ready. The Perseid meteor shower is a yearly event that peaks around August 12th, at which time the rate of falling meteors, AKA falling stars, reaches over one hundred per hour.

The Perseid meteor shower occurs as the earth moves through the orbit of the Swift-Tuttle comet. Although Swift-Tuttle passes through our solar system only once every 130 years or so, it leaves a trail of meteor debris in its wake. These meteors enter the earth's atmosphere traveling at approximately 37 miles per second and are visible mostly in the northeast near the Perseus constellation.

The Perseid meteor shower should reach its peak around 1:00 am central time on Sunday. As an added bonus, the moon is just beginning a new cycle, so you won't have to contend with moonlight. Just stay away from big city lights and pollution for best results and a clear view of what's sure to be a spectacular light show.

The majority of these meteors will burn up in the atmosphere long before reaching earth, so don't expect to catch a sequel to Armageddon on video. However, a grapefruit-sized meteorite did crash through the roof of a house in New Zealand in June of 2004. It hit a sofa, bounced back up to the ceiling, and came to rest under a nearby computer. The meteorite was estimated to be worth approximately $5,000, which would have been just enough to cover the cost of repairs.