The night sky this week will exhibit some spectacular views as three planets align and the annual Perseid meteor shower occurs.

The Perseids is the name of a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle. The Perseids are so-called because the point they appear to come from lies in the constellation Perseus. The name derives in part from the word Perseides, a term found in Greek mythology referring to the descendants of Perseus. The stream of debris is called the Perseid cloud and stretches along the orbit of the comet Swift-Tuttle. The cloud consists of particles ejected by the comet as it travels on its 130-year orbit. However, there is also a relatively young filament of dust in the stream that was pulled off the comet in 1862.

The Perseid meteor shower has been observed for about 2000 years, with the earliest information on this meteor shower coming from the Far East. Some Catholics refer to the Perseids as the “tears of St. Lawrence”, since August 10 is the date of that saint’s martyrdom. The shower is visible from mid-July each year, with the peak in activity being between August 9 and 14, depending on the particular location of the stream. During the peak, the rate of meteors reaches 60 or more per hour. They can be seen all across the sky, but because of the path of Swift-Tuttle’s orbit, Perseids are primarily visible in the northern hemisphere. As with all meteor showers, the rate is greatest in the pre-dawn hours, since the side of the Earth nearest to turning into the sun scoops up more meteors as the Earth moves through space.

Debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle causes the Perseid meteor shower, according to NASA . The space agency said that the huge comet swings through the inner solar system every 133 years and leaves behind a trail of dust and gravel. Flashes of light occur when Earth passes through the debris and specks of comet-stuff hit the atmosphere at 140,000 mph and disintegrate.

NASA stated that the best time to look for the meteors is during the darkest hours before dawn on Friday morning. Most observers should see dozens of Perseids per hour.

For the best view, observers should find a dark spot, well away from street lights, with a good view of the sky.