Perseid meteor shower: Best time to see up to 100 shooting stars an hour
Stargazers across Ireland are in for a celestial treat as the annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak over the coming days
The Perseid meteor shower is set to light up the sky tonight in what one expert has labelled as one of the most dramatic displays of the year.
The meteor shower is set to occur between 11 and 13 August and amateur astronomers can expect to see up to 100 100 meteors, also known as shooting stars, per hour.
The annual meteor shower is the debris left behind Comet Swift-Tuttle , which comes around every 20 to 200 years, and was last seen in 1992 (and in 1862, 1737 respectively). While the shower will peak this weekend, it will be active between 17 July and 24 August.
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The perseid has an average meteor speed of around 36 miles per second which will means fast trails of zooming colour in the sky. Perseid (Per-see-id) is "one of the most dramatic things to see in the night sky between July and August," according to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, reports The Sun.
Best time to watch
The best time to get a glimpse of the meteor shower is when the sky is at its darkest between midnight and 5.30am.
Avoid light pollution
A more remorse area with fewer city lights and little light pollution will allow for a better meter-watching experience. The Royal Greenwich Observatory advises, "This could mean heading out to the countryside, a nearby park or even doing something as simple as turning your back to street lamps if you are not able to go anywhere."
Lock your phone away
You need to give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the dark to see the fainter showers, so this means downing your phone well in advance to prepare yourself.
Avoid obstruction
You need an unobstructed view of the horizon, it’s best to avoid areas which are treelines or cityscapes. The Observatory adds: "Meteors can appear in any part of the sky so the more sky you can see the better.”
Binoculars
You may not always need binoculars and they may not be helpful as they can limit the view of the sky.
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