Perseid Meteor Shower: Peak Dates For Fireballs Over Oceanside - Oceanside, CA Patch

The hours between midnight and sunrise are the best time to scan the sky for the summertime classic, which is known to produce fireballs.

NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke says the Perseids produce more fireballs than any other meteor shower — to the extent that he's nicknamed them the "fireball champion." During the Perseids, it's not unusual to see a fireball every few hours, Cooke says.

Though viewing is best after midnight from anywhere in the sky, the evening hours may offer a special treat known as an earthgrazer.

Dark skies are the best for meteor shower viewing.

NASA's Cooke told Space.com meteor shower watching requires an investment in preparation and time, but is "the simplest form of astronomy there is.".

Each meteor shower has a radiant point where the meteors appear to originate; with the Perseids, it's the constellation Perseus.

7-17 shower is known to produce up to 120 multicolored meteors at their peak