But on special dates scattered throughout the year, skywatchers can catch a multitude of flares as meteor showers burst in the darkness.
The next event is the Perseids, which lasts until about Sept. 1 but reaches its peak over the weekend, from Saturday, Aug. 12, into Sunday, Aug. 13.
Meteor showers occur when our planet runs into the debris fields left behind by icy comets or rocky asteroids going around the sun.
The regularity of orbital mechanics means that any given meteor shower happens at roughly the same time each year, with the changing phases of the bright moon being the main variable affecting their visibility.
The shower is visible only in the Northern Hemisphere, in latitudes below 60 degrees north.
Persons:
Tuttle
Organizations:
Northern