The annual Perseid meteor shower is forecast to reach its maximum during the late hours of Tuesday, Aug. 12, into the pre-dawn of Wednesday. Astronomers say a waning gibbous Moon that is about 84 percent illuminated will significantly dim the display, reducing the likely meteor count to roughly 10–20 per hour instead of the 60–100 typically seen under dark, moonless conditions. The Perseids occur each August when Earth passes through debris shed by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The shower is best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, away from city lights, and will remain active until Aug. 23. Some experts recommend observing later in the week, when the Moon rises later and its glare is less intense. Coinciding with the meteor peak, Venus and Jupiter—the two brightest planets—will appear less than a degree apart before sunrise on Tuesday, forming a vivid naked-eye “double star.” Binoculars or a small telescope can reveal Jupiter’s four Galilean moons alongside the pairing. Despite the lunar brightness, the overlapping celestial events offer skywatchers a rare opportunity for an early-morning show.