1. The Perseids are debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, which last passed near Earth in 1992.

2. The shower peaks every year in mid-August, usually around August 11 to 13.

3. At its peak, skywatchers can see 50 to 100 meteors per hour under dark skies.

4. Perseid meteors travel at roughly 59 kilometers (37 miles) per second.

5. The shower gets its name because the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus.

6. Most Perseid meteors are only about the size of a grain of sand.

7. Some Perseids produce bright fireballs that outshine every star in the sky.

8. The comet that causes the Perseids will not return to the inner solar system until 2126.

9. Ancient Chinese astronomers recorded Perseid sightings as far back as 36 AD.

10. Best viewing is after midnight, away from city lights - no equipment needed, just your eyes.