The Perseid Meteor Shower, nature’s regular summer spectacle, is past its peak (Aug. 11 – 12), but an eye on clear skies and a waning moon mean there’s still a good shot at shooting stars Tuesday and Wednesday, depending on locale as Earth hurtles through dusty trail of comet Switft-Tuttle.

“Midnight to dawn any morning the week before or after (the Perseid peak) should produce a few meteors,”: NASA reports. The Perseids generally appear to radiate from a point high in the north, called the “radiant,” the NASA folks say, but you only have to point yourself North and look up.

Not only is there still a good chance at seeing a number of meteors Tuesday here near the Cranston Penthouse in Rhode Island, when rain and clouds finally clear, the waning moon will be nearly fully dimmed just before the New Moon Wednesday (when clouds are unfortunately forecast again). This makes Tuesday a better opportunity to see the Perseid Meteor Shower in the Ocean State than during the peak, when a quarter moon threatened to block out many of the dimmer specimens. So check your local weather the next few days, and prepare to stay up with your eyes pointed up to see a good show. The volume of shooting stars won’t be as spectacular, but there ought to be plenty to justify the effort of packing a blanket and pillows and plopping yourself in a dark field away from city lights.

Perseid Meteor Shower Viewing Tips: 

• Bring a blanket and something to prop your head up as you watch for meteors.
• Remember, state parks close at dusk, so while those areas are far from light pollution, you won’t be able to go in.
• This is a good night to let the other guy drive so you can just look up.
• If you see a very slow, bright object sailing across the sky, it’s either a satellite or a Space Station.

Pro Tip: If there’s an observatory near you, chances are that’s a spot far from light pollution, which greatly improves your chances at seeing shooting stars. Better still, a field will have plenty of space for social distancing so you can safely bring a few friends.