The Perseids are coming!
The 2008 Perseid meteor shower peaks early morning on Tuesday August 12th and it should be a good show. Annual meteor showers like the Perseids occur as the Earth passes through a stream of debris left by a comet. The source of the Perseid shower is Comet Swift-Tuttle. Although the comet is far away, currently located beyond the orbit of Uranus, a trail of debris from the comet stretches all the way back to Earth. Earth will begin entering the trail of debris as early as August 10th, however the peak of the shower will start after midnight on August 12th.  Earth will be pelted by specks of comet dust hitting the atmosphere at 132,000 mph. At that speed, even a flimsy speck of dust makes a vivid streak of light when it disintegrates--a meteor! Because, Swift-Tuttle's meteors streak out of the constellation Perseus, they are called "Perseids."

Many observers will begin watching the skies this Saturday evening to catch these brilliant streaks of light that as they shoot across the sky. Remember that the best time to watch is after midnight until sunrise.

The planet Jupiter can be found as the brightest object, after the Sun & Moon, in the south eastern sky just after sunset. As a matter of fact, it will be the first bright point of light visible in the sky after the sun goes down.