Every August, Earth passes through a trail of dust left behind by a comet. The tiny bits burn up in our sky as streaks of light called meteors, or shooting stars. This yearly show, named the Perseids, is one of the best of the year. At its peak this month, people in dark places could see dozens of meteors every hour. The dust specks are often no bigger than a grain of sand. They move so fast that they glow bright white when they slam into the air high above us.
Why it matters: The next big meteor shower comes in December, and all you need to watch is a dark backyard and some patience.