The best viewing sites are inland foothills, mountains and desert areas that offer a clear, broad view of the sky.

When it comes to meteor showers, the Perseids pop. It's not just about the quantity of meteors (as many as 100 per hour) and their showy quality but also their superb timing.

Two meteor showers will peak simultaneously Tuesday night into Wednesday, giving stargazers a celestial double feature. The Alpha Capricornids and the Southern Delta Aquarids will begin their peak late on July 29 into the early hours of July 30.