Perseid meteor shower peaking

Early Tuesday, you could have the opportunity to wish on hundreds or even thousands of shooting stars. After midnight, look up in the northeast for the annual Perseid meteor shower, consistently one of the most spectacular celestial shows of the year. For the best view, don't bother to set up a telescope — a meteor shower is best observed with your naked eye under a dark sky, preferably on a comfortable blanket or lawn chair. If you're really ambitious, try pointing a single-lens reflex camera at the northeast sky and taking a long exposure — at least a few minutes. The meteors will show up as streaks emanating from the constellation Perseus.

Box office

Batman has legs

"The Dark Knight" became the third-highest-grossing film of all time over the weekend, claiming the top spot at the box office for a fourth straight week. The Batman sequel took in $26 million, according to studio estimates. That was plenty to beat the R-rated pot comedy "Pineapple Express," which grossed $22.4 million. The $30 million Seth Rogen film has collected $40.5 million since its release Wednesday. The weekend haul for "Knight" raised its total to $441.5 million, surpassing "Shrek 2" as the third-highest-grossing movie of all time. By next weekend, it should pass the $461 million set by "Star Wars" to become No. 2 on the all-time list, behind the $601 million set by "Titanic."

Passages

Anthony Russo, 71, a researcher who helped leak the Vietnam-era Pentagon Papers to the media and prompted wider public questioning of the war, died Wednesday in his native Suffolk, Va. The cause of death was not immediately made public.

Today in History

1934: The first federal prisoners arrived at the island prison Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay.

1965: Rioting and looting that claimed 34 lives broke out in the predominantly black Watts section of Los Angeles.

1984: President Reagan joked during a voice test for a paid political radio address that he had "signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."

Today's Birthdays

Actress Arlene Dahl, 80. Songwriter-producer Kenny Gamble, 65. Wrestler-actor Hulk Hogan, 55. Singer Joe Jackson, 54. Actor Miguel A. Nunez Jr., 44. Actress Viola Davis, 43. Actor Duane Martin, 43. Actor Will Friedle, 32. Rapper Chris Kelly (Kris Kross), 30. Singer J-Boog, 23.

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