Andrew J. Goudsward

@agoudsward

This week marks the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, and forecasters say the annual celestial spectacular will be even bigger than usual.

Under perfect conditions, stargazers may be able to see up to 200 meteors per hour streak across the sky, double the typical rate, according to a statement from NASA.

Perseid is one of the biggest events of the year for space aficionados because it reliably produces a great show and occurs in August, when nights are warm enough to grab a lawn chair and a blanket and stare out at the night sky, said Carlton Pryor, an astronomy professor at Rutgers University.

What should you know if you're planning on venturing out to see the shooting stars? Here's your local guide.

What is the Perseid meteor shower?

The meteor shower is caused by a trail of debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet. Years ago, when the comet passed close to the sun, heat caused parts of it to break apart, and as the comet moved farther out into the solar system, a trail of rock and dust bits remained in its wake, according to Sarbmeet Kanwal, an astronomy professor at Brookdale Community College in Middletown.

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Every year around this time, Earth moves through this debris field. As it does, bits of celestial rock and dust enter our atmosphere and are superheated to up to 10,000 degrees, causing them to give off light and race across the sky as the shooting stars that are visible from our own backyards.

"It's an indication that we live in a universe where there's lots of things going on, where rocks fall from the sky," Pryor said. "It's a chance to see things happening in the universe."

The shower gets its name from the Perseid constellation, the area of the night sky where all the meteors appear to originate, Pryor said.

Why do forecasters think it will be even more spectacular than usual this year?

According to experts, we can thank Jupiter.

About every 12 years, Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, moves close to the comet's debris field. The massive gravity of the gas giant actually pulls on the particles, altering its path, according to Pryor. That means instead of Earth moving through the edge of the comet's trail, it will move more toward the center, and as a result, forecasters expect more meteors will be visible this year, Pryor said.

When is the best time to watch?

The shower lasts from July 17 until Aug. 24, but experts said it will peak Thursday night into early Friday morning.

The shower can be viewed from anywhere and takes place across the whole sky. You can start seeing meteors as soon as it gets dark, Pryor said, but optimum viewing time will be during the darkest time of night, between 1 and 5 a.m. after the moon sets.

Don't use a telescope or binoculars because they restrict your field of vision, making it far less likely that you'll spot a shooting star.

You won't actually be able to see all 200 meteors per hour, especially in New Jersey, where light pollution keeps the sky relatively bright during the night. Pryor said near cities, about 20 to 30 meteors per hour should be visible; that number should jump to 30 to 60 an hour in more rural areas.

Where will the best views be?

You can take in the awe-inspiring show from your own backyard, but if you're determined to get the best view possible, the darker the sky the better, Kanwal said.

You'll want to go away from lights to somewhere you can see the entire sky, such as the roof of a building, a park or even a remote beach; just be sure you'll be allowed in during the wee hours of the morning. The most rural areas of the state — the mountainous northwest in Sussex and Warren counties, and the Pine Barrens in south central New Jersey — should provide the clearest views. This online map shows where light pollution is most and less intense.

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If you're looking to watch the spectacle with a group, D&R Greenway, a science organization, is hosting a watch party Thursday night at 11 p.m. at the St. Michaels Farm Preserve in Hopewell Township, Mercer County.

Kanwal said stargazers should be patient because "there's a lot of luck involved with these kinds of things. It's one of those things where you take a cup of coffee and wait until you see something.

"Some people get excited," he said. "I suppose there's a romance involved in it."

Weather: Chance of thunderstorms

Unfortunately, the forecast doesn't look great for stargazing: During the overnight hours of Friday morning, it calls for about a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms, with mostly cloudy skies expected earlier Thursday night.

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Andrew Goudsward: 732-643-3653; agoudsward@gannettnj.com