Celestial Spectacle.

Grab a blanket and settle down in a good spot outdoors Thursday evening. A three-day meteor shower is going to start around 10 pm, east coast time - and it's going to be a good one. Here's how NASA's Tony Phillips describes the annual "Perseid" meteor shower:
    Every 133 years the huge comet swings through the inner solar system and leaves behind a trail of dust and gravel. When Earth passes through the debris, specks of comet-stuff hit the atmosphere at 140,000 mph and disintegrate in flashes of light. These meteors are called Perseids because they fly out of the constellation Perseus.
The viewing will be clearer this year because lunar glare isn't expected to be visible during the midnight-to-dawn period. Last week, astronomers got a peek of coming attractions when an asteroid turned into a fireball in the skies visible in the southeastern United States. Friday night stargazing may be the best time to take it all in as the crescent moon is expected to set before the finish of twilight, offering up a very dark sky to behold.
D.P. Duari, Director, Research and Academics at the Birla Planetarium says
    The Perseid meteor shower is expected on Thursday night, when the earth passes through the debris of comet Swift Tuttle, with predictions of a shooting star every second at the peak of the celestial spectacle.
    It is predicted that the earth will pass through the comet debris between August 11 and 13. As hundreds and thousands of small rocky fragments enter the Earth's atmosphere, they will burn up due to friction displaying brilliant and dazzling streaks of light.
“Those who want to witness the phenomenon will be able to observe the rising of the Perseus constellation in the north eastern horizon at around 10.30 p.m. on the night of August 12. If monsoon clouds do not play spoilsport, slow moving meteors with their brilliant colours streaking past the sky will be observed at around 11.00 p.m. onwards. As the night progresses the meteor speeds will be much faster,” he added.     The number is expected to rise and if the forecast timings are accurate, may peak around the early hours of August 13, numbering between 60 and a 100 per hour. By this time the meteors will be much faster and of shorter duration, Dr. Duari predicted.
The absence of the moon will be a bonus for people waiting to observe this beautiful phenomenon. It came close to the sun last in 1992, and is currently at the outer periphery of our planetary system.
It is perfectly safe to observe the shower with the naked eye, Dr. Duari said.
Grab some blankets, lie down, and gaze into the northeast skies to enjoy the show.