The Perseid meteor shower offers a captivating display in the Northern Hemisphere, promising ideal viewing conditions. As it peaks from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, it coincides with a solar eclipse in Spain, Iceland, and Greenland, along with a notable alignment of six planets. The most opportune time to experience this spectacle is after the eclipse ends.

According to NASA, enthusiasts can witness between 50 to 100 meteors per hour under optimal conditions. The American Meteor Society provides a slightly lower estimate of 30 to 50 meteors per hour, particularly in rural regions. Even on regular dark nights, sporadic meteors may be visible.

Meteor showers occur when Earth encounters trails of debris left by comets or asteroids, causing these particles to collide with the atmosphere at high speeds, producing luminous streaks known as shooting stars. The Perseid meteors originate from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 133 years and is anticipated to return in 2125. This meteor shower has been observed for over 2,000 years, renowned for its bright fireballs and the summer warmth that makes it enjoyable.

We don’t have to suffer through a cold winter night to get a good view of meteors, stated astronomer Zach Vanderbosch from the McDonald Observatory in Texas.

The moon will be in its new phase during the Perseids’ peak, enhancing viewing opportunities. The moon is beautiful, but it’s such a diva, commented astronomer Aparna Venkatesan from the University of San Francisco. The absence of moonlight allows more meteors to be seen.

To observe the meteors, venture outside after dark, ideally away from clouds and city lights. Venkatesan intends to travel to the Sierra Nevada for a clearer view. The best viewing time is between midnight and dawn when the constellation Perseus rises high in the northern sky. Meteors will seem to emanate from this constellation. To optimize the experience, allow your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the dark, focus on a part of the sky, and avoid checking your phone.

Vanderbosch suggests enjoying the magic of the event, noting the wonder in witnessing these celestial streaks.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP takes full editorial responsibility for this content.