Preview the Perseid Meteor Shower 2013 Peak

The Perseid meteor shower 2013 peak is still a ways off, but you may be able to get a preview of the show Sunday night, as skies are supposed to be mostly clear.

The Perseid meteor shower is a big one. And this year's show arrives with no moon, which is ideal for stargazing, and the weather forecast for the Perseids over Burke on Sunday is for mostly clear skies.

This video of the Perseid meteor shower shows you what you can expect when it peaks Aug. 11 and 12. Or check out these pictures of the Perseids.

How spectacular is the show? NASA says Perseid rates can get as high as 100 visible meteors per hour, with many of them appearing not just as bright streaks but as fireballs hurtling through the sky.

The Perseids are the offspring of the comet Swift-Tuttle. We see the meteors when the Earth passes through the comet's orbit and sweeps up some of this debris. We see shooting stars -- rapid streaks of light -- as the tiny rocks encounter the thin upper atmosphere of the Earth and the air is heated to incandescence.

You can see the shower anywhere in the sky, but look toward the southeastern sky to see the meteors at their brightest and longest.

Where to watch? The darker the area the better. 

• Gather some friends and head for the Burke Centre Shopping Center (or similar shopping center with a large parking lot unobstructed by trees).
• Head to the track and field at Lake Braddock Secondary School. It's a nice dark spot for stargazing.
• Kick your feet up in your own backyard if you have a clear view of the moon.

As always, check for posted hours of public places before setting up shop.

Where do you watch in Burke? Tell us in the comments below.