Stunning flashes of dust or rock left in the wake of a comet will be visible in the night's sky this weekend.
Perseids meteor shower - caused as Earth passes through comet Swift-Tuttle on its path around the sun - will appear at its brightest this weekend. The meteor shower began on July 17 and will end on August 24. But, because the moon will only be about 10 per cent illuminated this weekend, the best viewing is still to come.
It means Brits should gaze up at the dark sky in the early hours of the morning of Saturday August 12, and the early hours of the morning of Sunday August 13. The meteors, which are flashes of debris left behind the comet, will shoot across the sky in all directions at huge speeds.
What’s the best time to look for the Perseids?
Check weather forecasts for cloud coverage. The clearer the night, the better chances of enjoying the spectacular. The best time to look is just after midnight, wherever you are in the world, on any given night.
This weekend offers the best hope, as the sky is expected to be relatively clear as little rain is expected, and astronomers understand the meteor will be at its brightest.
And scientists also say a dark sky will help, so try to reduce the light pollution around you at whatever time you intend to look at the sky.
Where should you look for the Perseids?
It is recommended to go to the middle of a park or to stay away from street lights if you can. If, though, you are viewing at home, turn off all your lights and try to find a view that isn’t obstructed by trees, buildings and other objects.
The rest is easy, astronomers say. Just let your eyes adjust and look out for meteors, which will shoot across the sky in all directions. They will appear and disappear within seconds, moving rapidly across the sky.
If you are lucky, you might even see some fireballs – big and brilliant meteors that appear as bright as Venus. The Swift-Tuttle is a ball of dust, ice, rock and dark organic material.
Why is it called the Perseid meteor shower?
The Perseids are caused by comet Swift-Tuttle, which takes 133 years to orbit the sun. The comet was last visible, with the help of binoculars, in 1992 and won’t be seen again until 2125, New Scientist reports.
Each meteor shower is named after the point in the sky where the meteors appear to start, or radiate, from. In the case of the Perseids, this is the constellation Perseus. The Perseids are visible from all over the world, but the best displays tend to be in the northern hemisphere, where Perseus can be seen.
The constellation sits in the middle of a triangle formed by the W or M-shaped (depending on where you are) constellation of Cassiopeia, the Pleiades star cluster and the bright star Canopus, which is in the constellation Carina.