Perseids flying overhead - Spot a meteor shower before its peak

One of our users took an impressive photo at night in Germany: It shows the annual Perseid meteor shower, which is currently approaching its peak on August 12th.

Thousands of stars twinkle above the Baltic Sea, streaked by bright trails of burning meteors. Particularly impressive is the delicate greenish glow in the sky.

A rare phenomenon known as airglow, caused by chemical reactions at an altitude of around 55 miles (90 km) above the Earth.

Though peaking on the Tuesday night the 12th, the Perseids have been active since July and this year the peak will not provide optimal conditions as it occurs days after a full moon.

If you still want to take a chance at watching them, check out the WeatherRadar. A clear sky is likely across much of the East and West tonight. With only the Southeast and the Midwest seeing storms.

The best way to observe the meteor shower to find a location away from the light pollution of a city and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness for at least 30 minutes.