PSA: Don't forget about the Perseid meteor shower tonight...

[Earth_First]

The past few nights have been pretty exceptional. We've viewed between 25-40 per hour over the past two nights. Tonight and tomorrow are expected to be great viewing nights...

Look to the constellation Perseus in the northeastern sky however, many will be viewed no matter where you look.

Unfortunately, the moon is near full so watching between midnight and the pre-dawn hours will wash a lot of the action, but the two hours pre-dawn when the moon has begun to set should be optimum viewing.

Using a structure such as a treeline, a house, a barn, etc. to block the moon should help in a pinch.

Good luck, and happy viewing!

[MineralMan]

1. As usual, whenever anything cool happens in the night sky,

Minnesota skies will be obscured by clouds tonight. I never get to see any phenomena it seems.

[sandyj999]

3. Michigan always has the same problem. n/t

[jimmyflint]

2. Thanks for the heads up.

I'll try to watch, don't know how much I'll be able to see. The moon was very bright last night.

[Mnemosyne]

4. I am lucky to see these once every five years or so, almost always cloudy. Cloudy today again.

Thanks for reminder, EF!

[Qutzupalotl]

5. The window is closing, since the moon is full tomorrow

and should set closer to sunrise.

[Earth_First]

6. kick n/t

[chill_wind]

7. K & R. n/t

[sabrina 1]

8. Thank you. I didn't know about this.

:kick:

[gauguin57]

9. I hear the full moon may make it harder to see the Perseids.

After midnight or just before dawn are good times to view, I've heard -- look in the darkest part of the sky.

I've spent many a wee hour of the night out in the yard, lying between blankets, watching both the Perseids and the Leonids.

Heard about the Perseids on ABC News tonight...

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/perseid-meteor-shower-2011-shooting-stars-midnight-full/story?id=14268632

[shanti]

10. what are you supposed to see?

i've been watching the NE sky for about an hour, and haven't seen any meteors. what i HAVE seen is a lot of contrails, i mean LOTS. tried taking a picture on my cellphone, but it couldn't take.