The event peppers the sky with up to 100 shooting stars per hour most years in August making it one of the most reliable light shows on the astronomical calendar. And with the Moon in its waning crescent phase when Perseid meteor shower August actually peak observers will have a good chance at spotting a dazzling display of meteors and even fireballs in space. So here's what you need to know the Persids appear to originate from the constellation Perseus which, of course, is how they got their name