The Perseid meteor shower is set to provide a late-summer show in the skies over the United States. The meteor shower, which NASA calls the best of the year, is set to peak on Aug. 12 and 13. "With swift and bright meteors, Perseids frequently leave long 'wakes' of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth's atmosphere," according to NASA. Observations of this meteor shower date back over 2,000 years. The moon will be in its new moon phase during the Perseids' peak, making viewing conditions even better.