Perseid meteor shower and rare Venus-Jupiter pairing set to light up Aug. 12 sky

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Stargazers are in for a rare treat on Aug. 12, when the night sky will feature both the annual Perseid meteor shower and a close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter.

The Perseids, one of the year’s most dependable and dazzling meteor showers, are expected to produce up to 100 meteors per hour at their peak. Despite a bright moon, the best viewing will be between 2 and 4 a.m., when the constellation Perseus is high in the northeast. Those hoping for the best views are advised to find a dark, rural location.

Adding to the spectacle, Venus and Jupiter — the two brightest planets — will appear less than the width of a pinky finger apart at arm’s length in the east-northeast sky during the pre-dawn hours. Venus will shine most brightly, with Jupiter glowing warmly beside it. Binoculars may reveal Jupiter’s moons and the disc of Venus.