We'll tell you when
to look up.

Go outside after 9:41 PM once astronomical twilight ends. Lie flat on your back and look straight up — meteors appear all across the sky, streaming away from Perseus in the northeast. The longest, most spectacular streaks appear 30–45° away from that point. No telescope needed.

Each streak is a grain of dust — some no bigger than a pea — shed by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle hitting Earth's atmosphere at 58 km/s and vaporising 80–100 km above your head. Swift-Tuttle last passed Earth in 1992 and won't return until 2126, but it leaves this trail of debris behind every year.

The Moon is 18% illuminated — excellent conditions. Give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust to the dark. A blanket and a reclining chair make this much better. Peak activity continues until dawn.