One of the best shooting star events of the year is the annual August Perseid meteor shower. (See Perseids pictures.) However this year's Perseids peak, on August 12, happens to coincide with a bright full moon—drastically cutting down the number of meteors visible to the naked eye.

Yet while the main event might be blocked out by the blinding moonlight, the opening act promises to be much better.

(See "Year's Biggest Full Moon, Mars Create Sky Show [2010].")

This year the lesser known Delta Aquarid meteor shower is expected to peak on Friday night, when the Delta Aquarids' more productive Perseid cousin is just starting