Halley's Comet was last seen in the U.S. in 1986 and won't return until 2061. The Earth is passing through bits of the comet's debris — which show up as meteors, or shooting stars, in the sky — best seen late Tuesday/early Wednesday morning this week. They'll continue to be visible in the early morning sky, usually starting at 1 or 2 a.m. until before dawn, through Nov. 7.
"Step outside before sunrise ... and if you catch sight of a meteor, there's about a 75% chance that it likely is a byproduct of Halley's Comet," according to Space.com.
During the peak between 4:30 and 5:40 a.m. Wednesday, you can expect to see about 20 meteors per hour shooting past at 41 miles per second. You may see the streak or train of a meteor, which lasts several seconds to minutes, or an explosion of light called a fireball, according to Nasa.gov.
Good viewing conditions are predicted because moonlight won't interfere (the moon sets earlier). The L.A. forecast calls for clear to partly cloudy skies. However, to have a clear view of the night sky, you need to go somewhere dark and far from city lights. Remember to dress in layers, lie flat on the ground (on a tarp or sleeping bag) and look up from a tree-free spot.
Maybe you've got a great backyard that's super dark at night. If not, here are some local places to go that may work for viewing (provided skies remain clear).
A short drive up the Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2) above La Cañada Flintridge will take you to at least two scenic pull-offs before the road closure 5 miles beyond the intersection with the Angeles Forest Highway. The highway has been shut for more than a month because of the Bobcat fire.
Trails and land in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area are open 24/7. Make sure you consult a map and know where you're going before you set out. Though parklands are open, parking lots aren't. Check where you can safely pull off and park at a trailhead or park access point.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.