Sure, the UK having two meteor showers at the same time this month is cool, but the Alpha Capricornids and Delta Aquariid showers that are both peaking at the end of this month aren’t the brightest or fastest night-time displays you’ll see this summer. That crown goes to the Perseid meteor shower, which begins this week.
Don’t just take our word for it – Royal Museums Greenwich calls the Perseids ‘one of the best meteor showers of the year’. So, if you’re after a stunning show of shooting stars, this is your best bet.
Keen to catch sight of some shooting stars? Here’s the lowdown on everything you need to know about seeing the Perseid meteor shower 2024.
What is the Perseid meteor shower?
The meteors are basically debris from a comet called 109P/Swift-Tuttle. They crash into the Earth’s atmosphere at an average speed of 36 miles per second then vaporise, leaving glowing streaks of light behind them. Perseids is known for being particularly bright and active, with around 100 meteors an hour.
When will the meteor shower be visible in the UK?
It’ll be active between July 17 and August 24. The shower is expected to be at its most visible when it peaks in mid-August.
How to watch
The good news is that you don’t need to spend any money on fancy equipment – the Perseids meteor shower is visible to the naked eye. Ideally, you’ll be somewhere with minimal light pollution and away from obstruction from trees and buildings. Royal Museums Greenwich advises that midnight to 5.30am will be the best time to enjoy the display.
Look out for fireballs, which is when larger meteors explode and create an even more vivid flash of light.
When will the Perseids peak?
It’s expected to peak and be at its most active on August 12 and 13.
When is the UK’s next meteor shower?
After Perseids, the next notable meteor shower will be Draconids, which will appear in our skies from October 6 to October 10.
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