Unpredictable meteor shower peaks this weekend

The June Bootids meteor shower is like a friend who never RSVPs, but is the life of the party when they do show up. It's considered one of the most unpredictable meteor showers of the year, but here's why you should take a chance on seeing it as it peaks this weekend.

The Bootids are expected to peak Friday night and Saturday night for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.

While it usually only delivers less than a handful of shooting stars an hour, sometimes we get treated to incredible outbursts from the Bootes constellation where this shower originates.

In 1998, the Bootids event produced as many as 100 meteors per hour, according to Space.com. In 2004, skywatchers witnessed about 20-50 meteors per hour says the Royal Museums Greenwich.

When and where to look

While no major outbursts are predicted this year, if you're feeling lucky you'll want to look to the western and southwestern sky just after dark (around 9 p.m. EDT) Friday and Saturday.

You always want to get as far away as you can from light pollution to get the best view of meteor showers.

Once you're in a dark area, give your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust, so avoid looking at your cellphone!

You should also try to keep the moon out of your direct sight line, or wait until it drops below the horizon, Starwalk.space advises.

(MORE: Tips for shooting the night sky)

Astronomers say the Bootids hit the atmosphere slowly, so they may long, lazy streaks rathern than quick flashes.

You don't need binoculars or a telescope for this event, just some patience. Happy meteor hunting and if you capture images of some shooting stars, share your pics in the comments!