Eyes to the skies! The Perseid meteor shower is now underway.
It started yesterday (July 17) and lasts to around August 24. The shower is particularly special due to its high hourly rate of bright meteors, numbering at around 100 per hour - although you are more likely to see around 50 per hour.
The shower is caused by the earth slamming through the debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet. The spectacle has been observed for more than 2,000 years, reports the Express.
When is the best time to see the Perseids?
The best time to see anything in the night sky is when the sky is at its darkest and the target is at its highest point. Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) said: "For meteor showers, this usually occurs between midnight and the very early hours of the morning."
But for Perseids specifically, its radiant - the point from where they appear to hail from - is always above the horizon, as seen from the UK. Therefore, RMG said observers in the UK should be able to see some of the meteors as soon as the sun sets.
So if you're hoping to catch a glimpse earlier than midnight, you can head outside in the early evening instead. Light pollution is a key deciding factor as to how clearly you'll see the shower, however, so the first step to minimise the impact is to head out when the moon is below the horizon or when it's in its crescent phase - otherwise, it'll dilute the light from the fainter meteors and they'll be less visible.
Where to see the Perseids best
According to RMG, the Perseids should actually be visible from anywhere you stand. But to boost your chances, you'll want to head somewhere where weather conditions are clear and light pollution is sparse.
RMG advises another method to reduce light pollution - aside from planning it well with the moon - is to watch from an expansive space free from streetlights, trees and buildings, like a park or field, for a better view of the horizon. RMG said: "Give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the dark so that you can catch more of the fainter meteors.
"Meteors can appear in any part of the sky so the more sky you can see, the better." Once you've found a good viewing spot, lie down on the ground and look up at the sky.
To plan where to look more accurately, download a meteor sky map to find the direction of the radiant. The higher the radiant above the horizon, the more meteors you should see.
When does the spectacle peak?
The peak of the Perseid shower is due to take place on the night of August 12 and the dawn of August 13.
