One of this year’s most spectacular celestial events, the Perseid meteor shower, is expected to give an unforgettable performance.

The Perseid meteor shower will light up the sky across the U.S. from mid-July to late August. During peak visibility on Aug. 12, the shower produces an average of 100 meteors per hour.

According to Space.com, the best time to see the meteors will start around 11 p.m. local time through dawn Aug. 13.

The Perseid shower is best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere. It can be seen anywhere in the U.S., but is easiest to see in dark-sky areas with minimal light pollution. Telescopes and binoculars are not needed to see the Perseid meteor shower. The best locations have wide open sky and limited buildings and mountains as they disrupt the view.

Meteors are caused by debris from comets and asteroids. As comets travel around the Sun they leave a trail of dust. Earth passes the trails, which collide with the atmosphere and create fiery streaks in the sky. The debris that creates Perseid showers comes from Comet Swift-Tuttle traveling about 133,200 mph, according to NASA.

It takes Comet Swift-Tuttle 133 years to orbit the Sun once. The comet was discovered in 1862 by Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle. Swift-Tuttle is a large comet. Its nucleus is 16 miles across.

The radiant for the Perseids – the point in the sky where the meteors appear to originate – is the constellation Perseus. But it is not the only source of the meteor, so you will want to keep a clear view of the entire sky to have a better chance of catching the shower.

Space.com recommends those looking for the meteor shower to give your eyes 30 minutes to adjust to the dark. Avoid any bright light including phone screens as it can ruin your night vision.

Although the Perseid meteor shower occurs annually, in 2028 it is expected to develop into a storm that will be even more breathtaking.