PERSEID METEOR SHOWER: Earth is entering a broad stream of debris from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, source of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Although the shower won't peak until August 12-13, when Earth hits the densest part of the stream, the first Perseids are already arriving.

QUIET SUN: A recent media report stated that a Carrington-class solar storm narrowly missed Earth two weeks ago. That report is inaccurate. Solar activity was low throughout July and remains low as August begins.