A Perseid Meteor . ... I., U. Bonn ) Explanation: Tonight the Perseid Meteor Shower reaches its maximum. Grains of rocky ice will streak across the sky as they evaporate during entry into Earth's atmosphere . ... In a clear dark sky, an observer might see a meteor a minute. ... The colors are representative but digitally enhanced. As the meteor streaked across the night sky, different excited atoms emitted different colors of light. ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . ...