Instructions
Combine your geographical location with the time of year to see the most meteors. If you live north of the equator, the best time to see meteors is in the second half of the year. People who live south of the equator see more meteors in the first six to seven months of the year.
Plan your viewing for the early morning hours. It is rare to see meteors early in the night as the Earth moves away from the sun. In the early morning hours of darkness, meteors appear to be coming head-on or at a right angle with the Earth.
Check with planetariums or the American Meteor Society on whether any meteor showers are in the area. Nine major meteor showers provide increased meteor activity that can be viewed from Earth each year.
Watch for meteors even when no major showers are on the books. Even minor meteor showers highlight the skies on most nights.
Pass on meteor watching if bright city lights glow nearby or when there's a full moon. Both limit visibility. Likewise, cloudy nights make catching a meteor almost impossible.
Look for a flash of light. The Earth's atmosphere causes the meteor to glow with intense heat as it burns up.