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The Perseids take place each August as the Earth passes through the debris of the comet Swift-Tuttle. (Kevin Clifford/Associated Press)Hundreds of shooting stars are expected to streak across the sky Thursday night.
This year's Perseid meteor shower peaks on the night of Aug. 12, and should produce a display of at least 80 meteors an hour during that peak, according to NASA.
The moon is expected to set early in the evening across North America, darkening the sky for better viewing.
The best viewing time in central North America is between midnight and dawn central time, reports staff at the University of Texas McDonald Observatory.
The Perseids take place each August as the Earth passes through the debris of the comet Swift-Tuttle. The dust particles light up as they pass through the Earth's atmosphere, burning up along the way.
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