Comet Dust Will Light Sky

Comet debris will light up the sky tomorrow night and Monday morning with shooting stars as Earth passes through the Perseid meteor shower. For the best view, pick a dark spot away from city lights and look east, says the Discovery Channel. "It's going to be a great show," a NASA expert advises. The showers will start around 9 PM EDT tomorrow night and peak at 2 AM Monday morning.

Comet Swift-Tuttle last glided by Earth in 1992, but its dust remains in a region of space that Earth travels through each year. The particles from the comet's tail heat up to 3K degrees and zoom at 136K mph as they contact Earth's atmosphere, and under this weekend's new moon will be particularly visible. (More Perseus stories.)