Perseid meteor shower to dazzle the night sky this weekend

If your head frequently gets lost in the stars — and really, with the Curiosity landing still so fresh, who could blame you — then this weekend will be a true delight. The Earth will once again be treated to the Perseid meteor shower, an event caused by the comet Swift-Tuttle.

Specifically, 2012 will be a great year to see the Perseid shower, as the moon will not be bright enough to cause serious distraction. The Perseid meteor shower will be at its best between August 11 and 14, when a single hour can easily bring 60 meteors. The best time to catch a falling star or two is dawn — after all, the part of the Earth that's nearest to turning to the sun collects the most meteors.

If you're heading out, don't forget to bring a camera. And, of course, be sure to check out our tips for capturing that perfect meteor shower photo.

[Image credit: European Southern Observatory]

This article was written by Fox Van Allen and originally appeared on Tecca

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