Perseid meteor shower: Where and when to see 100 fireballs shoot across sky
Stargazers can look forward to a spectacular show as the Perseids meteor shower will reach its peak tomorrow.
It has been described by NASA as the "most popular meteor shower of the year". According to the Royal Observatory, the meteor shower has been active from July 17, and will go on until August 24. Over the course of the last few nights the showers have been intensifying and it is expected to culminate in its most brilliant display on Tuesday.
Observers in the UK should expect to see meteors as soon as the Sun sets. Jupiter and Venus will also appear at their closest to Earth today and tomorrow, providing gazers with an opportunity to see the two celestial bodies. It comes after NATO scrambled warplanes as Russia shoots down West's F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine onslaught.
NASA says tomorrow morning, the two planets will be roughly a degree apart and will shine brightest before sunrise.
Meteorite expert Dr Ashley King, from London's Natural History Museum, suggested those wanting to see the meteor shower stand on a hill in the middle of the countryside - or head to a coast. Observers should try to avoid well-lit and built-up areas and try to find unobstructed views to make the most of the spectacle.
Dr King said: "Once you get used to the low light levels, you'll begin to notice more and more. So don't give up too quickly."
Stargazers should be aware that this year's Perseids shower may be hindered by the brightness of the moon, which is expected to be shining at around 84%.
NASA says the glare of the moon is expected to wash out the brightest meteors, but suggested that witnesses counter this by standing behind a tall building or tree to block out some of the moonlight.
The event has been recurring for centuries and occurs as a result of Earth passing through a cloud of dust left behind the Comet Swift-Tuttle.
The meteors are typically small — no bigger than a grain of sand — and burn up as they hit the Earth's atmosphere. Entering at around 36 miles per second, the small pieces of material produce bright trails of light.
The Perseids are named after Persus — the constellation where the meteors are believed to originate from, and are known for their fireballs. These are characterised by bigger explosions of light and colour that stay in the sky longer than an average meteor streak.
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