One of the best nighttime shows of the year, the Perseids meteor shower, should delight stargazers over several nights beginning this weekend.

Up to 50 to 60 meteors per hour can be seen in the atmosphere at the Perseids' peak, which this year will be Sunday through Tuesday, according to David Kriegler of the University of Nebraska at Omaha physics department.

Scientists from NASA and elsewhere predict prime viewing time for the "shooting stars" to begin late Saturday into early Sunday morning, then nightly into early next week.

The meteors, which have been observed for at least 2,000 years, appear to fall from the constellation Perseus, but are actually leftover debris from comet Swift-Tuttle. They recur each year when Earth passes through the comet's debris trail.

Some Perseid meteors could have been spotted in late July, experts say, and may be seen through Aug. 22.

"This is considered the second best shower of the year," Kriegler said.