When it comes to meteor showers, the Perseids pop. It's not just about the quantity of meteors (as many as 100 per hour) and their showy quality but also their superb timing.

The Perseids are usually active between July and late August, but the shower will peak on Aug. 12 or 13 as Earth crosses the thickest part of comet Swift-Tuttle's debris trail. Swift-Tuttle was last seen in 1992 and won't be visible to the naked eye until the year 2126.

Meteor showers like the Perseids often gradually increase in intensity and then peak, before rapidly falling off. In other words, the curve is not symmetrical, and now is the time to start looking.