Attention, all star-gazers!

The annual Perseid Meteor Shower is happening in a matter of days and you’ll want to make your plans accordingly. For those who have never experienced this celestial event, the Perseid Meteor Shower is considered to be the most famous summer meteor shower. It’s an event where meteors, commonly known as shooting stars, light up the night sky in the most magical way. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event.

The annual Perseid Meteor Shower will take place during the month of August, and is expected to peak between August 11th and August 12th.

NASA / Bill Ingalls / flickr

On that night, the moon will be approximately 47% full, meaning that there will be a fairly dark sky for the stars to shine.

NASA / Bill Ingalls / flickr

The Perseids Meteor Shower is named for the constellation Perseus, which is the radiant (the point from which the stars appear to originate) during peak activity.

Bill Dickinson / flickr

What we designate as shooting stars are actually bits of cosmic debris entering the Earth’s atmosphere at very high speeds.

Joshua Moore / iStock / Getty Images Plus

The key to enjoying a meteor shower is to find a place outside with little light pollution. This might mean a campground or your own backyard if you live in a more rural area. It’s possible to see a rate of 50-75 meteors per hour at maximum activity.

tdub303 / E+ / Getty Images

One of the fascinating things about Perseids is their ability to appear multi-colored when photographed. It’s truly a mesmerizing experience!

Bill Dickinson / flickr The Perseids will be active until August 24th, 2020, so even if you miss the peak, you’re likely to spot a shooting star or two if you’re outside at night.

Have you experienced the Perseid Meteor Shower in Virginia? If so, we’d love to hear all about it! And if you love star-gazing, you’ll definitely want to check out this designated dark sky park in Virginia.

NASA / Bill Ingalls / flickr

Bill Dickinson / flickr

Joshua Moore / iStock / Getty Images Plus

tdub303 / E+ / Getty Images

The Perseids will be active until August 24th, 2020, so even if you miss the peak, you’re likely to spot a shooting star or two if you’re outside at night.

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