Perseids meteor shower to peak this weekend - how to spot the shooting stars

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A dazzling light show will be visible in the night sky in the coming days as the Earth passes through clouds of debris left by a comet.The Perseids meteor shower will hit its peak this weekend as our planet travels on its route around the sun, coming into contact with dust and rocks left by the Swift-Tuttle comet.The natural phenomenon began on July 17 and will end on August 24, and because the moon is only expected to be 10 percent illuminated this weekend, skies should provide the ideal viewing experience.The Mirror reports that keen skygazers should head outside in the early hours of the morning of Saturday August 12, and the early hours of the morning of Sunday August 13, for the best chance of spotting the display.

The meteors, which are flashes of debris left behind the comet, will shoot across the sky in all directions at huge speeds.It's worth keeping an eye on the local cloud forecast for your area, as the clearer it is, the more chance you'll have of spotting the meteors.

The best time to look is just after midnight, wherever you are in the world, on any given night.Astronomers predict the meteor will be at its brightest this weekend, but a dark sky will help, so try to avoid light pollution as much as possible.If you want to spot the meteor shower, try moving to a secluded area away from street lights.

But if you're watching from home, turn off all your lights and try to find a view that isn't blocked by trees or buildings. The rest is easy, astronomers say.