One of the most popular and well-known meteor showers of the year will peak tonight after midnight, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said.
The Perseid meteor shower could begin shortly after 9 p.m. That's when the Perseus constellation rises in skies northeast of the Las Vegas Valley tonight.
These meteors are created by Comet Swift-Tuttle, which is beyond the orbit of Uranus but leaves a debris trail that extends to Earth, NASA said.
Before 1 a.m. Tuesday, Jupiter and the moon may interfere with seeing the most delicate streaks of light across the night sky, but until dawn observers may see as many as 100 sparkling particles per hour, NASA said.
The dust particles from Comet Swift-Tuttle crash into the Earth's atmosphere and burn, causing the brilliant streaks of light.
Best viewing is away from the bright lights of Las Vegas, such as Valley of Fire State Park, about 35 miles northeast of Las Vegas off Interstate 15.
But astronomers expect quite a show in the western United States, so backyard enthusiasts can catch glimpses of those streaks of light.
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