The strongest meteor shower of the year is about to peak. Here's how to watch

Streams of light and color will travel across the sky while explosions of fireballs linger, leaving behind even brighter streaks than the meteor trails.

Visible annually from mid-July to September 1, the Perseid meteor shower is set to peak between Sunday and before dawn Monday. Up to 100 meteors are expected per hour, moving at a speed of 133,200 miles per hour (214,365 kilometers per hour).

The Perseids are known for their bright fireballs, described as the richest meteor shower of the year. They can surpass 1 meter (3.3 feet) in diameter and are brighter than Venus.

This year is optimal for watching the shower because moonlight conditions will not wash out faint meteors, allowing viewers to observe both bright and dim ones.

During the peak of the shower, the moon will be 50% illuminated and will set around midnight.

The Perseids result from Earth passing through debris trails originally released by the comet Swift-Tuttle.

The best time to view the shower is after midnight around 2 a.m., when the source of the meteors will be the highest in the northeastern sky. The Perseids can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere, except in Antarctica where they are not visible.

Here are upcoming meteor showers, with the dates they are expected to peak:

• Draconids: October 7-8
• Orionids: October 21-22
• Southern Taurids: November 4-5
• Northern Taurids: November 11-12
• Leonids: November 17-18
• Geminids: December 13-14
• Ursids: December 21-22