The Perseids originate from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a comet about 16 miles across, roughly twice the diameter of the rock that killed the dinosaurs. It orbits the Sun once every 133 years and last visited the inner solar system in 1992. It’s expected to be visible to the naked eye when it returns in 2126.

The meteor shower is expected to peak from Aug. 12-13, although moonlight will impact meteor visibility. The moon will be 84% full during the peak. NASA says the best time to view the Perseids is early in the morning, before dawn, in the Northern Hemisphere. Sometimes, however, the meteors can be seen at night as early as 10 p.m.