Thousands of shooting stars light up sky in August

Have you ever seen a falling star? In August, thousands of them light up the sky at once.

This amazing event is called the Perseid meteor shower. Every year, around August 10 to 13, Earth passes through a cloud of space rocks. These rocks are very small—many are just dust. When they hit our air, they burn bright. We see them as shooting stars.

Why does this happen every year? A comet named Swift-Tuttle leaves a trail of dust as it moves through space. Earth travels the same path every August. So we always see this beautiful show at the same time.

The best time to watch is late night or early morning. The sky is darkest then. Find a place away from city lights. Lie down and look up. Your eyes need about 20 minutes to adjust to the dark. Then you will see the stars clearly.

You do not need a telescope or binoculars. Just your eyes. The meteor shower is free and open to everyone. Families often gather together to watch and count the shooting stars.

Did you know the Perseid shower is one of the best meteor showers all year? Hundreds of shooting stars can appear in just one hour. It is a simple way to connect with space and feel small under the stars.

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.