The Perseid meteor shower puts on a breathtaking celestial display every August and this weekend is the best time to see it.
When the Earth’s orbit passes through the cloud of pea-sized debris left by the Swift-Tuttle comet, the night sky is lit up by as many as 100 meteors an hour.
Swift-Tuttle visits the inner solar system every 133 years. It last passed by Earth in 1992 so it won’t be in the neighbourhood again until 2125.
The annual event is a skygazer's dream and a great opportunity to take stunning photographs.
The Perseid meteors leave long trails of light in their wake as they hit the atmosphere at 132,000mph and burn up in a blaze of colour.
Perseid meteors are also known for their eye-catching ‘fireballs’ which are dramatic explosions of light that last for longer than normal meteor streaks.
According to NASA , it’s considered the best meteor shower of the year.
When can I see the meteor shower?
You can view the meteors most nights between July 14 and August 24, but they will be at their most intense and visible on the night of Monday, August 12.
They are brightest in the hours before dawn, but you may catch a glimpse as early as 10pm.
This year the peak coincides with an almost full moon, so NASA’s advice is to watch on Sunday when the moon will set after 3am and skies will be darker than the following night.
Where is the best place to see it?
It’s going to be a weekend of wild weather but most of the stormy weather will have moved north by Sunday, hopefully making the Perseid shower more visible.
Wales’ wide open spaces offer plenty of locations that are perfect for skygazing - the best being in Snowdonia National Park and the Brecon Beacons.
If you’re in the south-east of Wales you have the best chance of seeing the display on Monday night and into the early hours of Tuesday when it will be at its peak and the skies have a chance of being clear.
In other parts of Wales it will be hit and miss whether there will be clear skies because rain and cloud are forecast, but if you don't see the meteor shower at its peak, you still have the chance to catch a glimpse every night until August 24.
