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Stargazers set sights on meteors Stargazers enjoy meteor spectacle
(about 4 hours later)
Shooting stars have been gracing the night sky in one of nature's most spectacular light shows. Thousands of people in the northern hemisphere have witnessed a spectacular light show of shooting stars, known as the Perseid meteor shower.
The Perseid meteor shower, which happens every year, has been most apparent in the north-eastern part of the sky near the Perseus constellation. The annual event coincided with a new Moon, providing stargazers with the best viewing conditions for years.
The meteoric marvel coincided with a new Moon, providing stargazers with dark skies and also the best viewing conditions for years. The shower lasts about two weeks, but reached its peak overnight on Sunday.
And those in cloud-free areas had the best view of all. It was most apparent in the north-east part of the sky near the Perseus constellation - prime viewing locations were Western Europe and North America.
"If we're lucky, on Sunday night and Monday morning we might see as many as 100 meteors an hour," predicted Dr Robert Massey from the UK's Royal Astronomical Society. Dr Robert Massey from the UK's Royal Astronomical Society said that as many as 100 meteors an hour would have been visible where the sky was clearest and darkest.
"But the usual caveat applies: you still need good weather."
The best viewing conditions will have been where the sky was clearest and darkest. However, meteors should be visible, to a lesser degree, in cities despite light pollution and smog.
"You will see them almost wherever you are, so it's worth a look," Dr Massey added.
Both hemispheres were due to receive good views but the prime locations were said to be Western Europe and North America.
Watchers were set to get the best of the display from about 2200 BST (2100 GMT) on Sunday 12 August, peaking just before sunrise on Monday 13 August.
Tiny particlesTiny particles
The annual Perseid showers are caused by small bits of debris, many no bigger than a grain of sand, that enter the Earth's atmosphere when our orbit passes through the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet.The annual Perseid showers are caused by small bits of debris, many no bigger than a grain of sand, that enter the Earth's atmosphere when our orbit passes through the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet.
These particles travel at very high speeds, reaching up to 50 kilometres per second (32 miles per second), and burn up in the atmosphere. These particles travel at very high speeds, reaching up to 50km per second (32 miles per second), and burn up in the atmosphere.
This causes the air around them to get extremely hot, which produces the streak of light that we see. This causes the air around them to get extremely hot, which produces the visible streak of light.
"It's a spectacular phenomenon that everyone can enjoy. The great thing is that you don't need any equipment apart from your eyes," Dr Massey said."It's a spectacular phenomenon that everyone can enjoy. The great thing is that you don't need any equipment apart from your eyes," Dr Massey said.
"It's a laid back form of astronomy. You can go outside, look up at the sky and enjoy it. And that's really what it's about." "It's a laid back form of astronomy. You can go outside, look up at the sky and enjoy it."
As an added bonus, watchers should have been able to see Mars, which was set to be in view as a bright red dot in the eastern sky after midnight.As an added bonus, watchers should have been able to see Mars, which was set to be in view as a bright red dot in the eastern sky after midnight.
Are you planning to see the spectacle? Send us your experiences using the form below.Are you planning to see the spectacle? Send us your experiences using the form below.
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