The Perseid meteor shower, a midsummer favorite of stargazers, is likely to light up the moonless skies over Japan on Monday night when it peaks, according to the national observatory. The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan said the moon will set around 9 p.m. Monday. This will make it possible, weather permitting, to see the celestial display at its best.
The meteors will appear to be radiating from Perseus, a constellation in the northeast. They will show up soon after sunset and intensify around midnight, the observatory said.
More than 50 meteors per hour can be spotted in areas not affected by light pollution, it added.
The Perseids occur every August when the Earth passes through dust left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet.
"There is no need for special equipment like a telescope," an astronomer at the observatory said. "If you stare at the sky long enough, you should be able to see many meteors."