Named after the constellation in the sky where the shower appears to start off, this annual light display comes from the 26-kilometre wide 109P/Swift-Tuttle Comet, which orbits the sun once every 133 years. The comet’s tail leaves behind debris, which the Earth passes through each year. As it does so, meteors enter its atmosphere, creating streaks of light across the sky.

McMahon says the meteors themselves are only the size of pebbles, with fireballs ranging around the size of golf and tennis balls to boulders. But what sky-gazers are actually seeing in the sky is the air in front of the meteor. As the meteor pushes the air at 59 kilometres per second, friction builds up, causing the air to heat up.

“These things are going so fast that they burn up in the atmosphere, like an out-of-control spaceship that doesn’t have a space shield.”

According to NASA, the shower’s peak began early this morning and will continue into tonight. Skywatchers shouldn’t despair if they miss the peak time though. McMahon says that over the next few nights, if it is clear, people will be able to see dozens of meteors every hour.

NASA recommends that skywatchers let their eyes adapt to the dark and lie on their backs with their feet facing northeast, looking up at the sky above. After 30 minutes, people should be able to spot meteors.