Update, August 8: The Perseids are coming this weekend, but we're waiting too see whether the weather will play ball. According to Accuweather, the forecast for clear viewing of the meteor shower is a bit murky.
As of Wednesday, the weekend forecast calls for clearer skies in the upper Midwest. However, some clouds will dampen visibility in the South and the West, while the California wildfires will cause viewing problems out there.
Here's hoping you find a dark spot with clear skies. If you're interested in upping your stargazing game, check out our guide to binoculars and telescopes, as well as how to take professional-level photographs of the stars.
The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most popular showers among stargazers, and for good reason. The Perseids tends to be one of the brightest and most active meteor showers of the entire year.
Space.com reports the meteor shower will peak on the nights of August 11 and August 12. However, NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke recommends August 12 for a slightly better show.
"This year the moon will be near new moon, it will be a crescent, which means it will set before the Perseid show gets underway after midnight," Cooke also told Space.com. "The moon is very favorable for the Perseids this year, and that'll make the Perseids probably the best shower of 2018 for people who want to go out and view it."
During the showers, you can expect to see about 60 to 70 meteors per hour, which breaks down to about one meteor per minute. Planets like Mars and Saturn will also be visible during this time, until about 4 a.m. local time for the Red Planet and 2 a.m. local time for Saturn.
The Perseids get their name from the fact that they appear to come from the constellation Perseus. The shower is caused by the Earth running into the debris left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle, which happens every August.
The Best Stargazing Binoculars and Accessories
Celestron Celestron Cometron 7X50 Binoculars
The ultimate beginner binoculars for any budding astronomer, the Cometron's 50mm objective lens make sure to capture lots of light for gazing clear night skies.
Nikon Nikon Aculon A211 10x50 Binoculars
A step up from beginner binoculars, the Aculon is designed with maximum portability in mind, making for some surprisingly light binoculars.
Celestron Celestron SkyMaster 25X100 Binoculars
With a 100mm objective lens for maximum light gathering, this is the Rolls-Royce of stargazing binoculars, but you're going to want a tripod for keeping things in focus.
Perfect for scope and binoculars, the TrailSeeker tripod extends from 19 inches to 70 inches and can even hold most small telescopes when you're ready for a stargazing upgrade.
The last time Swift-Tuttle passed near Earth was in 1992. It's swing by again in 2126. Swift-Tuttle is so large that the Earth spends weeks inside the debris zone it left behind.
NASA recommends viewing a meteor shower from dark areas like suburbs or the countryside. It will take about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust, and the longer you wait outside, the more meteors you'll see. Happy skywatching!
