... Streaking into the early morning sky on August 3rd, a Delta II rocket launches NASA's Messenger spacecraft on an interplanetary voyage to Mercury. ... Enjoying the bright Moon's absence from early morning skies, observers around the world reported lovely displays during this year's Perseid meteor shower. ... In dark, moonless, predawn skies you may see dozens of meteors per hour. ... The Perseid meteor shower has slowly been building to a crescendo and should peak on the nights of August 11 and 12. ...