NATURE | See up to 150 meteors per hour

The Perseid Meteor Shower occurs around the second week of August each year. The Perseid shower is generally known for producing up to 100 frequent, bright meteors an hour. However, due to Jupiter’s recent nudging of the Swift/Tuttle comet’s debris stream closer to Earth’s orbit, astronomers are predicting more than 150 meteors per hour for 2016’s Perseid shower. On Friday, Aug. 12, from 8-11 p.m., join UIS associate professor of astronomy and physics John Martin to observe the meteors plus the planets Mars and Saturn. The viewing will be held outdoors in Lincoln Memorial Garden’s Cawley Meadow. Participants are encouraged to wear insect repellent and to dress appropriately for the temperatures. In the event of clouds or rain, the viewing may be canceled. For status updates, call the UIS Astronomy Department at 206-8342 or follow @UISObservatory on Twitter for updates.