Exact time to spot the Perseid meteor shower from the UK tomorrow
The Perseids meteor shower, which is active from July 17 until August 24, is expected to peak on Tuesday
Perseid meteor showers have been witnessed for almost 2,000 years
(Image: Nick Fitzhardinge via Getty Images)
Stargazers are in for a breathtaking spectacle as the Perseids meteor shower reaches its pinnacle tomorrow. The Royal Observatory has confirmed that the meteor shower began on July 17 and will continue through to August 24.
Throughout recent evenings, its displays have been building in intensity, with expectations that Tuesday will deliver the most dazzling performance. In fact, NASA has hailed it as the 'most popular meteor shower of the year'.
Dr Shyam Balaji, theoretical physicist, King's College London, also commented: "The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the Earth travelling through the debris left by a comet called Swift-Tuttle.
"The debris falls through the Earth's atmosphere and as it burns up you get the meteor shower display. It is one the fastest and brightest meteor showers of the year, so an astronomical highlight for stargazers."
According to the Mirror, UK observers can anticipate seeing meteors from the moment the sun disappears below the horizon. Jupiter and Venus are also set to make their closest approach to Earth today and tomorrow, offering sky-watchers the chance to potentially witness both planetary giants.
UK observers can anticipate seeing meteors from the moment the sun disappears below the horizon
(Image: Getty Images)
However, Dr Balaji warned that light from the full Moon might make it more challenging to view both these planets and the meteor spectacle. Reports suggest the Moon is expected to shine at around 84%.
Dr Balaji continued: "The best place to view the Perseid meteor shower is in the North East near the constellation Perseus. While you can look at the whole sky and are likely to see a meteor, that's the target location in order to get the best viewing experience."
She later added: "For me personally, I the best way to view the meteor shower is just with your naked eye because of the speed with which they move.
"But you could use Sky Guide or Stellarium or other stargazing apps to get a better viewing experience, to target the right regions of the sky to see the meteor shower."
The Perseid meteor shower has been observed for almost 2,000 years. It results from Earth traversing through a dust cloud left in the wake of Comet Swift-Tuttle.
The meteors involved are surprisingly minuscule - no larger than a grain of sand - and incinerate upon entering Earth's atmosphere. Travelling at approximately 36 miles per second, these tiny fragments create vivid streaks of light across the sky.
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Named after the constellation Perseus - believed to be their point of origin - the Perseids are renowned for their fireballs.
These are distinguished by large explosions of light and colour that linger in the sky longer than an average meteor trail.
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