Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower 2013 Peak

By Todd Richissin

The Perseid meteor shower 2013 peak is a few days off and you may be able to get a good look at the show already, if the skies cooperate.

The Perseid meteor shower is a big one, and this year's show peak times will have a crescent moon.

The weather forecast for the Perseids over Leesburg on should tell you whether you can get a preview of the peak.

Sunday and Monday both have a 0% chance of rain in Leesburg (certainly a rarity),  but Monday's forecast is less ideal, with cloud cover expected into the night.

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.

• Ida Lee Park
• Ball's Bluff Regional Park
• 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 Leesburg? Tell us in the comments below.