Perseids meteor shower: Get LI’s best views at state parks

Ready to get cosmic? The Perseids meteor shower will be the “best known meteors of the year,” according to NASA. And you can watch the action unfold at several New York state parks.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced that several parks will remain open during the celestial event Monday, Aug. 12 through the peak viewing times of predawn Tuesday.
Here’s where you can watch:
According to the state Parks Department, there will be no charge and the normal star gazing permit will not be required. Revelers must remain near their vehicle though.
What is the Perseids meteor shower?
According to NASA, the meteors in this shower are particles left behind in the debris trail of a comet called Swift-Tuttle. This 16-mile-wide, icy dustball orbits the sun every 133 years. It last swept through the inner solar system in 1992 and will return in the year 2126.
Anyone looking at the sky in the right spots could be able to see a dozen or more meteors each hour.
The only thing that could pose a problem is the moon. It’s going to be nearly full during viewing hours. NASA says viewers will “have a better chance to see meteors when the moon is low in the west, or the brief period after it sets.” Thanks a lot, moon.

What does the Perseids meteor shower look like?
It looks like this, but it’s even better with your own eyes.
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