The night sky is about to deliver a rapid-fire series of spectacles, giving stargazers three reasons to look up over just five nights. With clear skies and a little planning, sky-watchers can capture all three events.

Mark your calendars: the Perseids meteor shower is peaking on the night of August 12 to 13, and it’s bringing those famous fireballs along. These aren’t your average shooting stars—they’re extra bright,

Peaking in mid-August ( Aug. 12 ), NASA considers this “the best meteor shower of the year,” noting, “With swift and bright meteors, Perseids frequently leave long ‘wakes’ of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth’s atmosphere.”