Perseids meteor shower, 1877 illustration. The Perseids meteor shower reaches its peak around 12 August each year. Meteor tracks, also known as falling or shooting stars, are caused by tiny dust grains entering the Earth's atmosphere from space. Meteor showers occur regularly each year when the Earth crosses the orbit of a comet and its debris enters the atmosphere. The Perseid shower is associated with the Swift-Tuttle comet. Illustration published in 'Le Ciel' (The Sky, 1877) by French author Amedee Guillemin.