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The bright Perseids are perhaps the most popular meteor shower of the year. But if the last-quarter moon that will appear during the shower this year is especially bright, they'll be washed out. Spectators can expect to see the greatest number of meteors during the shower's peak on the morning of August 12, according to NASA. Years without moonlight see higher rates of meteors per hour, and in outburst years (such as in 2016) the rate can be between 150-200 meteors an hour. This NASA sky map shows where to look to spot the Perseid meteor shower of 2020, which peaks before dawn on Aug. 12, 2020. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Last year, a bright, full moon made things a little bit tricky for skywatchers looking to get a glimpse of the Perseids. So, while "the Perseids are rich in bright meteors," NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke told Space.com last year, "the moonlight is going to spoil most of the show. This year, the moon won't get in the way quite as much, but its bright glow could have a smaller impact on your ability to clearly spot the Perseids. To best see the Perseids, go to the darkest possible location and lean back to observe as much sky as possible directly above you. The best time to look for meteors is in the pre-dawn hours. While the meteors will peak in the morning on Aug. 12, they will also be very visible on Aug. 11 and 13. Even outside of this peak timeframe, you should be able to spot a few meteors between midnight and dawn any morning the week before or after this date, according to NASA. TO see the meteors, look up and to the north. Those in southern latitudes can look toward the northeast to see more meteors. More at: https://www.space.com/32868-perseid-meteor-shower-guide.html
