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Perseids: Meteor shower captured across UK skies | Perseids: Meteor shower captured across UK skies |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Stargazers captured the dazzling display of the annual Perseid meteor shower as it reached its peak on Wednesday night. | Stargazers captured the dazzling display of the annual Perseid meteor shower as it reached its peak on Wednesday night. |
The display was widely anticipated this year as the shower coincided with a new moon for the first time since 2007, creating a darkened sky. | |
People in the Midlands and the north of England had the best view of the meteor shower. | |
Cloud cover spoilt visibility for some parts of southern England and Scotland. | |
Comet Swift-Tuttle | Comet Swift-Tuttle |
The Perseids - which are pieces of Comet Swift-Tuttle - are active each year from around 17 July to 24 August, although for most of that period only a few meteors an hour are visible. | The Perseids - which are pieces of Comet Swift-Tuttle - are active each year from around 17 July to 24 August, although for most of that period only a few meteors an hour are visible. |
The peak came overnight on Wednesday, with more than 100 meteors an hour produced. | |
The peak of the display occurs when the shower's "radiant" - the point from which the meteors appear to originate - is highest in the sky. | The peak of the display occurs when the shower's "radiant" - the point from which the meteors appear to originate - is highest in the sky. |
Prof Mark Bailey, director of Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland, said the Perseids were "one of the best and most reliable meteor showers of the year". | |
Robin Scagell, vice president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, said: "The thing about shooting stars is they're a wonderful free spectacle we can all enjoy, assuming clear skies. | |
"The Perseids are usually fairly bright. Also, they tend to leave a trail, or train, behind them. You can see the train hanging there glowing in the sky for a few seconds - sometimes for several minutes - after the meteor has gone." | |
Marek Kakula, public astronomer at the Royal Observatory described the comet dust as "travelling faster than the speed of a bullet". | |
"When they hit the atmosphere, they burn up in a little streak of light that lasts for just a few seconds," he added. | |
For most people, meteor showers are best viewed with the naked eye. Experts advise finding a dark location, away from artificial light, and an unobstructed view of the sky. | For most people, meteor showers are best viewed with the naked eye. Experts advise finding a dark location, away from artificial light, and an unobstructed view of the sky. |
Have you been watching the sky for this year's Perseid meteor light show? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories and pictures. | |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |