Insider Blog: The Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend, moon may block view

The Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak this weekend, but we may have a tough time seeing it due to a full moon brightening the sky.

The Perseids peak every year from mid-July through late August. The peak will be tonight and Saturday night after dark through just before dawn.

The shower is caused by the Earth passing through debris left behind from the Swift-Tuttle comet that passed closed to Earth in 1992. The Perseid meteor shower looks like it is radiating from the constellation Perseus in the northeastern sky. Meteors can be seen anywhere in the sky but if you traced a line along their path, it would trace back to Perseus, according to space.com.

On a typical year, 100 meteors an hour could be seen, but with the bright moon this year that number will likely be lower. During years without moonlight, between 150-200 meteors per hour can be seen.

Your best shot is to find your favorite place away from city lights before dawn on Saturday or Sunday mornings to view the shower with a telescope. Skies will be more clear tonight versus Saturday night as clouds try to roll in on Sunday.