Meteor showers and stargazing events dot the calendar, but you should take note of this one. It's an absolute must-see. The Perseid meteor shower lasts from July 17 through August 24, but when it hits its peak on the night of Sunday, August 12, it will be one of the year's most magnificent events for stargazers.
Unlike this year's Southern Delta Aquariids, things are lining up to allow the Perseids to provide an incredible show, starting the night of August 12 into the morning of August 13. The display is capable of raining down hundreds of meteors per hour. This year, Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office tells Thrillist the peak could hit as many as 100 meteors per hour, though it's more likely to be in the 60-70 range.
The conditions are quite favorable for the Perseids, which can include bright fireballs. The peak arrives just after a new moon, ensuring that moonlight won't obscure your view. The combination of summer weather, an active storm, and favorable conditions may very well make the Perseids the best meteor shower of the year. The only more active shower will arrive in December, but you'll have to drag yourself out in to the cold in order to watch that one.