Astronomy Question: Darkness and Meteor Showers

Janet asks, Dear Astronomer,Why does it always say that the best time to watch for meteorites during a meteor shower is between midnight and dawn? Are there really more meteorites at that time, or is just because the sky is usually darker at that time? We live in the high mountains of Colorado, 21 miles [...]

A Perseid meteor with the Milky Way in background. Image Credit: Brocken Inaglory
Janet asks,
Dear Astronomer,Why does it always say that the best time to watch for
meteorites during a meteor shower is between midnight and dawn?
Are there really more meteorites at that time, or is just because the sky is usually
darker at that time?
We live in the high mountains of Colorado, 21 miles from the nearest small town.
When we crawl out of bed at 3 AM to watch a meteor shower, I wonder if we couldn’t see it just as well at 9 PM.
We seem to see just as many stars at that time.
Thanks, Janet
Great question Janet!
There are a number of factors that can affect visibility of a meteor shower, some of which you touched on in your question.
I’ll explain a ...