A SPECTACULAR meteor shower will be seen over the UK this weekend, if the clouds stay away. (Its clear skys here in Newport, and seen a few already 10.32 pm)
The Perseids, which streak through the sky every summer, will appear brighter than usual because of a new moon.
Astronomers estimate that, under ideal conditions, up to 80 meteors an hour - one every 45 seconds - could be visible. Although the showers have already begun, they will be at their maximum tonight.
The shower will peak at about 3am. Although the meteors appear to radiate from a point in the constellation Perseus in the north-eastern sky, they can be seen from anywhere in the UK, depending on the weather. Enthusiasts in Scotland will need to be lucky or patient as tonight's forecast for most of the country is for rain.
The Perseids are made up of dusty debris shed by Comet Swift-Tuttle, discovered in 1862. Each year the Earth's orbit causes it to plough through the meteors, which burn up as they shoot through the upper atmosphere. Most of the meteors are no bigger than a grain of sand, but as they shoot through the Earth's atmosphere at around 135,000mph they burn up in a bright light and many leave a glowing streak in their wake. Occasionally they ignite into a bright fireball as larger meteors shoot through.
Chinese records from 36AD contain the earliest reports of the Perseids.
Stargazers should also watch out for Mars, which will be especially bright in the northern sky this weekend.
**Sadly no triffids have been spotted.
Tags:newport gwent
The Perseids
meteors
space
2 people have spoken:
Overcast and generally crap up here. Nil seen.
For a change the weather down here was clear and ok, unlike this morning when it decided to piss it down at the time when I have to leave for work.
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