Dr. Mel Blake
The Perseid meteor shower will peak on the night of August 12/13, 2014. The Perseid meteors result when the Earth passes through the debris of Comet Swift-Tuttle. Meteor showers are named after the constellation that they appear to come from; if you trace back the path of the meteors across the sky in a meteor shower, they all point back to a certain spot on the sky, called the radiant. The constellation or star nearest where the radiant is located gives the meteor shower its name. From a dark location you can normally see about two or three random meteors per hour. During the peak of the Perseid meteors the shower will produce about 50 – 80 meteors per hour, likely peaking in the night of August 12th and the morning of the 13th. However, expect Perseid meteors between the 11th to the 14th, with fewer meteors after that. This year the shower takes place during the waning crescent Moon which does not ride until it is nearly twilight. This makes it a very good year for watching the meteor shower. The 
Perseid meteors are noted for many brighter meteors some of which may leave a trail behind. Meteors last only a second or two, and the Perseids will come from the northeast part of the sky. The meteor shower produces meteors for about a day before and a day after the peak, so keep an eye on the sky for meteors on August 11th through to the 13th.
No special equipment is needed for watching a meteor shower. The Perseid meteors will appear to be coming from the northeast part of the sky but you do not need to stare at that part of the sky. Try not to stare at one spot in the sky. To save your neck, a chair that reclines, like a pool chair will help, and don’t forget the bug spray! Good luck!
