The Perseid meteor showers explained in 60 seconds, with stunning photos

Observe the Perseids
(Image credit: BBC/YouTube)

Tonight (Aug. 12) is supposed to be the optimal night to watch this year's Perseid meteor showers, and the 2015 show is expected to be especially good because there is only a sliver of moon visible in the sky. If you don't know much about the Perseids, or just want to see some beautiful photos of the showers from the comfort of your screen, the BBC has this one-minute video that briefly explains why the meteor shower occurs and how best to watch it. After the video, you can go outside and try seeing the shooting stars for yourself. Peter Weber

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Peter Weber

Peter Weber is a senior editor at TheWeek.com, and has handled the editorial night shift since the website launched in 2008. A graduate of Northwestern University, Peter has worked at Facts on File and The New York Times Magazine. He speaks Spanish and Italian and plays bass and rhythm cello in an Austin rock band. Follow him on Twitter.