The Perseid meteor shower is due tonight. According to the Royal Museums Greenwich, it is visible between 17 July and 24 August 2023.
How to see the Perseid meteor shower
What is the Perseid meteor shower, when does it happen and how can I see it in 2023?
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The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most dramatic things to see in the night sky between July and August.
In 2023 the Perseid meteor shower is active between 17 July and 24 August. The shower will peak 12-13 August.
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Meteor showers are caused by dust and debris from old comets or broken up asteroids, or other rocks or metallic pieces that are within earth’s orbit.
A comet might leave dust as it passes through the solar system. As the Earth orbits the Sun it can pass through the cloud of dust from a comet and burn up in our atmosphere, the burning pieces are what we see as shooting stars or meteors. If one falls to Earth it is classed as a meteorite.
Meteorites come in two types, carbonaceous (with carbon compounds) and metallic (with metals such as iron inside them). If you find one that has landed it can be worth a great deal of money.
Finally the meteor shower is named after the area or constellation in the sky they apparently come from. So the Perseid shower appears to emanate from the constellation Perseus. Others include the Orionids, Geminids, and other star groups. They happen throughout the year and astronomers can predict when they are due although not always the strength of the shower or storm. Tonight’s shower may have up to 100 shooting stars an hour. They usually start after local midnight… Good luck if you try to see them, I wish you clear skies.
Mallaband-Brown 