What time do i watch the Perseid Meteor Shower in Illinois?

Question

im about an hour away from chicago area....when is the best time to look into the skies, is it tonight or tomorrow night? and does it have to be a moonless sky to get good visibility?

Answer 1

at night  

Answer 2

Probably the best times are after midnight, when the portion of the Earth you're on is facing it's orbital direction.  A darker sky is best, but you should see one every 2 or 3 minutes.  

Answer 3

The Moon interferes, but does set eventually.  But you can see meteors as soon as it's dark - about an hour after sunset.  It helps to get to as dark a site as you can.  Look more or less straight up.  A blanket or reclining chair helps.  Use your naked eyes.  You want to take in as much of the sky as possible.  Dress warm, it's August, but it's still night.  Take bug spray - then the worst thing that can happen is that you need it.  Tonight is good, but if it's cloudy, tomorrow night is good too.  I saw three meteors Saturday night, one which was a Perseid.  You can tell because it seems to have come from the constellation Perseus.