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

The Week

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.