The Perseid meteor shower is lighting up the over the next month in what is always a highlight of the calendar for stargazers.
With about 100 shooting stars streaking through the sky every hour, it is one of the brightest and most active showers of the year.
There is also a high chance of seeing fireballs, which are very bright meteors, as well as meteors with long trains.
The shower is caused by Earth slamming into the debris left behind by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle in July and August every year.
It is called the Perseids because the meteors appear to originate from the constellation of Perseus.
The Royal Observatory said: “The average speed for a Perseid meteor is 36 miles per second. The air in front of the meteor is squashed and heated to thousands of degrees Celsius. The smaller meteors vaporise and leave behind a bright trail of light. Larger meteors can explode as fireballs.”
When is the 2023 Perseid meteor shower?
In 2023 the Perseid meteor shower is active between 17 July and 24 August.
The shower will be at its peak – meaning the most meteors should be visible – on the night of 12 August and before dawn on 13 August.
How can I see the Perseids from the UK?
As with most things in the night sky, the best time to see the Perseids is when the sky is darkest. At this time of year in the UK, that means between midnight and around 5.30am.
However, the Royal Observatory adds: “The radiant of the Perseids is actually always above the horizon as seen from the UK, which means that observers in the UK should be able to see some meteors as soon as the Sun sets.
“Therefore, it is worth looking up in the early evening.”
Meteors can appear in any part of the sky so the more sky you can see the better. You ideally want to be away from tall trees and buildings.
Observers can look out for the shower wherever they are, but a clear sky with minimal light pollution offers the best chance of catching a glimpse.
The Royal Observatory adds: “This could mean heading out to the countryside, a nearby park or even do something as simple as turning your back to street lamps if you are not able to go anywhere. Give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the dark so that you can catch more of the fainter meteors – this does mean that you should not look at your phone.”
