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Forecast Not Ideal For Perseid Meteor Shower

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Tonight was supposed to be the best viewing time to see the Perseid Meteor Shower -- which happens every year in mid-August -- but the forecast is calling for clouds.

Harry Augensen, professor of physics and astronomy at Widener University, says clouds could block the show later.

But he says the Perseid meteor showers will still be visible Friday and Saturday nights, and maybe longer:

"I would start watching sometime between 2am and 5am. After five, the twilight glow of dawn starts to interfere with the meteors."

Augensen says this year could be a peak year with between 60 and 100 meteors per hour, if not more. He says that's because Jupiter's orbital gravity is pulling more meteors into our area:

"A lot of that depends on light pollution. If you happen to live near the city, you're going to see much less. If you're out in the suburbs, or maybe up in the Poconos, you'll see a few more."

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