Astronomers say the lack of moonlight will help people see more of the oldest meteor shower known to Earth, the Perseids (pur-SEE’-uhdz).

NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke said the annual show will peak around 3 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday. Cooke said if the weather is good, expect one shooting star a minute, maybe more.

Weather Underground meteorology director Jeff Masters said the skies will be clear for an unusually large section of the US.

The sky show is pieces of Comet Swift-Tuttle hitting Earth’s atmosphere at more than 133,000 mph and burning up. The best way to watch: lie down and look up — no telescopes needed.