Stargazers Get Ready For Shooting Stars Across PA

ACROSS AMERICA — Meteor showers are expected to light up the skies over the last few days in July and early August, peaking on Aug. 13, according to EarthSky.

Close to midnight Saturday and through Sunday the peak of Delta Aquarids meteor shower is expected to arrive.

The best time to watch is mid evening to dawn.

Meteors are formed from leftover comet bits and broken asteroid pieces that leave a trail in the wake of the comet's orbit.

Earth then passes through these debris trails annually, allowing the particles to collide with our atmosphere.

The result is the colorful streaks in the sky.

If you go outside Saturday night, it’s likely you will see the peak of Delta Aquarids meteor shower, which goes from July 18 to Aug. 21

You may also see some of the early Perseids. A dark sky is ideal for stargazing.

The Delta Aquarids shower is caused by dust and debris being left in the inner solar system by Comet96P/Machholz.

About 10 to 20 “shooting stars” per hour are expected from the peak of the Delta-Aquarids meteor shower, which will occur in dark moonless skies.

You may also see something of the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower that will also be peaking, according to a science report in Forbes magazine.

As Earth orbits the sun, it encounters the lopsided orbit of a comet, the icy surface of which leaves behind dust and rocks as they boil off from the sun’s heat.

When these space rocks fall toward our atmosphere, “the resistance – or drag – of the air on the rock makes it extremely hot,” according to NASA.

The Perseids is regarded as the "best meteor shower of the year," according to NASA — became active on July 17, and is expected to peak Aug. 13.

EarthSky.com suggests looking up from late evening until early dawn at the beginning of August for the Perseids.