Peaking in mid-August ( Aug. 12 ), NASA considers this “the best meteor shower of the year,” noting, “With swift and bright meteors, Perseids frequently leave long ‘wakes’ of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth’s atmosphere.”

With the new moon darkening the skies, you’ll have a rare shot at spotting the Milky Way, deep-sky galaxies, and even the Andromeda galaxy with the naked eye.