Perseid meteor showers = shooting stars

The latest batch of severe thunderstorms expected to hit the Washington region Thursday evening will be out of here by 9 p.m., so with any luck residents may see some shooting stars through the parting clouds.

Tonight is one of the peak nights for the Perseid meteor showers. Skywatch's Blaine Friedlander says that the crescent moon is expected to set at 9:22 p.m. The International Meteor Organization suggests observing the meteors stars after midnight.

Astronomers say barring clouds -- and weather permitting -- the number of meteors that might be seen could number 50 to 100.

It's tough to see them in the city (too many lights.) So consider heading out to more rural areas.

Or maybe just prepare to watch the sky really hard.