Perseid Meteor Shower 2013 Peak: Forecast and Where to Watch

The Perseid meteor shower 2013 peak is here, and the weather forecast for Bel Air is cooperating for what promises to be a great show.

Skies are supposed to stay only partly cloudy as Saturday turns into Sunday, and then the forecast calls for mostly clear skies.

Bonus: This year's show peak times will have a crescent moon, so the fireballs hurtling through the sky should be plenty visible if you get to a dark enough spot.

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. 

• Head to the track and field at C. Milton Wright High 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 Bel Air? Tell us in the comments below.