Perseid Meteor Shower August 2014: Top Photos of Shooting Stars Shared on Social Media, Plus Peak is Tonight, Best Viewing Times and Where to Watch

The Perseid Meteor Shower will peak early tomorrow morning, and sky-gazers everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere are getting ready to catch a glimpse of what should be a great display of shooting stars. Technically the meteor shower has been going on all month, but is only now entering the maximum phase of meteor frequency. As such, plenty of photographers have already snapped some amazing photos of Perseid meteors streaking across the sky and have posted them on social media. We've included some of the best photos shared online so far, plus a guide below on how to best view the meteor shower's peak tonight. 

In order to view the Perseid meteors you need to be in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning you are north of the Equator. If you are, then your best viewing times will be around 2 a.m. local time. This is because the moon is still very bright after last Sunday's supermoon, and the extra light from the moon will diminish the number of meteor you will be able to see. Waiting until 2 a.m. when the moon's light is not as bright will help you maximize your chances of seeing some of the Perseid meteors as they burn up in the atmosphere. 

The Perseid Meteor Shower is an annual event which occurs as the Earth's orbit takes it through the tail of the Swift-Tuttle Comet. Debris from the comet's tail collide with the Earth's atmosphere and the falling debris burns up on its way down and become the "shooting stars" we see in the sky. 

Normally, at its peak, the Perseid shower can produce as many as 100 shooting stars per hour. Though with the moon's current brightness, expect that number to be reduced significantly. Binoculars and telescopes are not necessary to view the meteors. You just need a clear view of the sky.

And without further ado, check out these amazing Perseid pics: