The Perseid meteor shower is widely considered the best meteor shower for the average person to view in the night sky. It’s so stunning it inspired a lyric in John Denver’s iconic song “Rocky Mountain High.

According to NASA, Perseids are known for their swift, bright meteors, which often leave long wakes of light and color behind them, as well as their fireballs. Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that are brighter and can last longer than an average meteor streak. The fireballs come from larger particles of cometary material.