The best way to watch a meteor shower is without optical aid. You just kind of recline back in a comfy chair and try to pan as much sky as possible with your periphery vision
Of course, you'll want to focus your general attention in the general direction of the Perseus constellation because they'll radiate from that general direction.
Of course, to keep on topic of global catastrophe, do you know what causes a meteor shower?
IE.... the Perseid shower is caused when the earth passes directly through the dusty path left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet. (The comet passes directly through Earths orbital path every 130 years) So each year when the earth passes directly through that crossing point during it's orbit around the sun.....bam...we get a meteor shower. Most meteors you see are no larger than grains of sand as they burn up very high in the upper reaches of the Earths atmosphere. Lucky for us, the orbit of Swift-Tuttle is precisely known, and we aren't expected to meet the comet itself "up close and personal" anytime soon
If the comet did hit us....it would be at a speed in excess of 130,000 MPH. The comet is estimated to be as much as a mile or a couple miles across(depending on the source), so if it did hit us... it would make one heck of a bang!!
PS....Of course, it's always fun to bring a pair of binoc's or a telescope for a little side entertainment, but to watch the shower....all you need are eyes
