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By Antoinette Milienos For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 23:10 EDT, 16 August 2023 | Updated: 23:14 EDT, 16 August 2023

Skywatchers are in for a treat this weekend as one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year reaches its peak.

The Perseids will light up the night sky across the world, with up to 100 shooting stars visible every hour.

The annual event takes place when the Earth ploughs through debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle Comet during its trips through the inner solar system.

Also known as the ‘fiery tears of Saint Lawrence’, the display will be visible both north and south of the equator, although those in mid-northern latitudes will be treated to the best views and see the most space rocks hurtling through the sky.

It will reach its peak on Saturday evening and into the early hours of Sunday, but the celestial sight should still be pretty spectacular into Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

Astronomers say the Perseids, like all meteor showers, are best viewed with the naked eye in areas with clear skies and low light pollution and smog with a wide view of the sky.

How can I watch the Perseids?

Firstly, check the weather forecast before you head out. 

The quality of the display that we see during the peak of a meteor shower is determined by two factors: the weather and the moon.

Last year, the latter was a pain but because our lunar satellite will be at its last quarter phase on August 8 and a new moon on August 16, the peak of the 2023 Perseids will have no moonlight interference.

The weather, however, could be a problem depending on where you live in the UK.

Forecasters say much of central and eastern England will enjoy a relatively clear night on Saturday – making it prime meteor-spotting weather.

But for those in Wales, Scotland, the South West and a lot of northern England you might have to wait for a break in the cloud to get the best glimpse.

Once you have identified a night and a location where the cloud isn’t too bad, you then want to head to a dark spot away from stray light.

Find an area with a clear view of the horizon and away from trees and buildings. 

Experts say binoculars and telescopes are not necessary because they will restrict the size of the sky that will be visible to you.  

However, if you have a telescope, pointing it northeast towards Perseus constellation will reveal shorter meteors that are easier to line up with the radiant, while the longest trails are visible at 90° to the radiant. 

The best time to see anything in the night sky is when the sky is darkest and when the target is at its highest position in the sky. 

For meteor showers, this usually occurs between midnight and the very early hours of the morning.

How many shooting stars per hour will there be? 

The quality of the show from a meteor shower depends on a number of factors and can vary dramatically year-by-year, according to NASA, with light pollution having a major impact.

Bill Cooke from the US space agency said the Perseids have a theoretical maximum of 100 per hour, but in reality many people will see far fewer.

‘In the 1980s, meteor researchers were searching for a way to compare the meteor shower rates observed by various individuals and groups across the globe,’ he said.

The rate published each year, in this case 100 per hour, known as the Zenithal Hourly Rate, is based on what the perfect observer would see under perfect skies if it was straight ahead. That never happens, said Cooke. 

Conditions in the area, such as light pollution levels, cloud cover and the position of the radiant of the shower, all play a part in the true number visible per hour.

Which countries get the best view? 

The event is best for viewing in the Northern Hemisphere, according to Dr Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society.

‘The radiant for the Perseids – the point in the sky the meteors appear to come from – is in Perseus, and high in the Northern Hemisphere of the sky,’ he said.

‘It’s 58 degrees north of the celestial equator, which means it would be overhead from 58 degrees north (the latitude of places like Ullapool in Scotland).

‘This also means the radiant never rises for places south of 32 degrees south, so the southernmost parts of Australia, and much of Argentina and Chile.

‘The upshot is that the Northern Hemisphere has the best potential view, as the radiant is higher in the sky and visible for longer, so in theory more meteors are visible.

‘As you move further south the number declines, and south of 32 degrees south essentially none are seen.’

The good news for US skywatchers is that according to astronomers, two of the best spots to see the Perseids this year will be along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the United States.

How fast are the meteors travelling?

A typical Perseid meteoroid moves at 133,200 mph (214,365 kph) when it hits Earth’s atmosphere.

At this point it becomes a meteor. If it were to hit the ground it would be termed a meteorite, but almost none of the Perseid fragments do this because they are the size of a grain of sand. 

Most of the fragments are visible when they are about 60 miles (97 kilometers) from the Earth’s surface.

When will the next meteor shower be? 

The next major meteor shower will be the Draconids in October, although it tends to be a less active shower than the Perseids.

One of the most beautiful celestial events of the year takes place this week, with up to 100 shooting stars visible each hour during the Perseid meteor shower.

Skywatchers across the US and Canada will be among those best able to enjoy the dazzling meteor shower, which occurs when the Earth plows through debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet during its trips through the inner solar system.

Described as a ‘fireball champion‘ by Nasa, it will be visible both north and south of the equator, but the Northern Hemisphere provides the best displays.

It will reach its peak in North America from August 12 to 13 and remain visible until September 1. 

Astronomers say the Perseids, like all meteor showers, are best viewed with the naked eye in areas with clear skies, low light pollution, low smog and a wide view of the sky. Here’s what to know if you want to make the most of it:

When and how can I watch the Perseid meteor shower in the US and Canada?   

First, check the weather forecast before you head out. 

The quality of the display that we see during a meteor shower’s peak is determined by the weather and the moon.

Forecasters say people in the US and Canada will have a good view this year, as long as the sky is clear of light pollution and clouds. 

If you’re in a location where the clouds aren’t too bad, head to a dark spot away from light. Find an area with a clear view of the sky away from trees, street lamps, and buildings. 

Experts say binoculars and telescopes are not necessary because they will restrict the size of the sky that will be visible to you. 

Be prepared – it could take 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark, and looking at your cell phone can mess up night vision.

The best time to see anything in the night sky is when the sky is at its darkest and when the target is at its highest position in the sky. 

For meteor showers, this usually occurs between midnight and the very early hours of the morning.

This year, the Earth will pass through the remains of the Swift-Tuttle comet at 4am ET August 13, and will be visible from 10.30pm to 4.30am.

How many shooting stars will there be every hour during the 2023 Perseid meteor shower? 

When a Perseid meteor shower begins, stargazers can only see about one meteor every hour. 

However, once it reaches its peak, that number will increase from 50-75, with a maximum of 100 every hour.

The average number people will see in 2023 will vary significantly, says Nasa’s Bill Cooke. 

‘People in the US can reasonably expect to see around 40 Perseids in the hour just before dawn on the peak nights. That’s about one every couple of minutes, which is not bad.’  

‘However, we are assuming you are out in the country, well away from cities and suburbs.’

Where can I watch the Perseid meteor shower and which countries get the best view? 

Two of the best spots to see the Perseids this year will be along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the United States.

Overall, the Northern Hemisphere will have the best views globally, according to Dr Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society.

‘The radiant for the Perseids – the point in the sky the meteors appear to come from – is in Perseus, and high in the Northern Hemisphere of the sky,’ he said.

‘It’s 58 degrees north of the celestial equator, which means it would be overhead from 58 degrees north.’

‘This also means the radiant never rises for places south of 32 degrees south, so the southernmost parts of Australia, and much of Argentina and Chile.’

‘The upshot is that the Northern Hemisphere has the best potential view, as the radiant is higher in the sky and visible for longer, so in theory more meteors are visible.’

For those in the US and Canada, national parks that are open after dark will predictably be among the most incredible places to view the Perseid meteor shower.

How fast are the Perseid meteors traveling and how big are they?

A typical Perseid meteoroid moves at 133,200 mph (214,365 kph) when it hits Earth’s atmosphere.

At this point it becomes a meteor. If it were to hit the ground it would be termed a meteorite, but almost none of the Perseid fragments do this because they are the size of a grain of sand. 

Most of the fragments are visible when they are about 60 miles (97 kilometers) from the Earth’s surface.

Meteors can travel at speeds of 44 miles per second, and the size of a meteor does not make any difference. 

The Perseid meteor shower is the only meteor shower to have delayed a Space Shuttle launch – the NASA-STS-51 was delayed in 1993 due to concerns about damage to the spacecraft. 

Why is it called the Perseid meteor shower?

The name Perseids comes from the constellation Perseus, which is visible in the Northern Hemisphere and parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

‘Perseus is a mythological Greek character,’ says Fiske Planetarium Manager Francisco ‘Tito’ Salas. 

‘Perseus is the one who killed Medusa. When he cut her head, that’s how he was able to kill the sea monster. And you know what happens when you see Medusa’s head? You transform into a rock.’ 

There have been other myths following Perseus which have found their way to be connected to the Perseids.

One myth states that Perseus married Andromeda, and together they had nine children. 

The connection? Perseids is derived from the Greek word Perseides, which refers to Perseus’ descendants. 

Like the Perseus constellation, the Perseids are visible in all parts of the world, primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Perseus constellation sits in the middle of a triangle formed by the W or M-shaped constellation of Cassiopeia, the Pleiades star cluster and the bright star Canopus. 

Together, it all creates the constellation Carina. 

What is the Swift-Tuttle comet?

The pieces of space debris that interact with our atmosphere to create the Perseids meteor shower originate from the Swift-Tuttle comet.

Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli realized in 1865 that this comet was the source of the Perseids.

Comet Swift-Tuttle was discovered in 1862 independently by both Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle.

Swift-Tuttle is a large comet – its nucleus is 16 miles (26 kilometers) across – and it last passed near Earth in 1992.

When will the next meteor shower be? 

The next major meteor shower will be the Orionids, which will begin its activity on September 26 and end on November 22.

It is a medium-strength shower that in recent years has produced less dramatic displays than the Perseids. 

It will hit its peak on October 20-21.