The Perseid meteor shower is underway

Space Weather News for August 9, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

The Perseid meteor shower has begun. Although the display will not peak until August 12th and 13th, sky watchers are already counting as many as a dozen meteors per hour (including some nice fireballs) during the darkest hours before dawn.

Rates could increase 5 to 10-fold when the shower reaches maximum on Sunday night and Monday morning.

Advice: Get away from city lights. While many Perseids will be bright enough to see from light-polluted urban areas, the shower's full grandeur is reserved for places with dark and starry skies. This is a good weekend to go camping.

Visit http://Spaceweather.com for photos, observing tips and a sky map. Full coverage of the shower begins today and will continue until Perseid activity subsides.