Make sure you look up to the sky this weekend to see the year’s biggest meteor shower
This weekend you might get a surprise if you look up to sky at night as one of the biggest meteor showers is expected to be viewable from Ireland.
The annual Perseid meteor shower will see a huge number of shooting stars in the sky, and the best night will be Saturday (August 12), just after midnight.
The Perseid is one of the most popular meteor showers of the year, and up to 150-200 meteors can be seen per hour, compared to normal rates of 80 per hour.
Because the Perseids is rich in fireballs, caused by the earth passing through the path of the Swift-Tuttle Comet, there is a natural increase in sightings.
The shooting stars, as they are known, are pieces of the comet that have broken off and are burning up as they enter the earth’s atmosphere.
The best way to see the meteor shower is to take in as much sky as possible – basically go somewhere that is dark and that offers you a large skyline.
Experts say it can take up to 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust, but if you get lucky you may not have to wait that long.
The nights of August 11, 12 and 13 will be the best for spotting the shower, with Saturday August 12 offering the best chance of catching a glimpse of something pretty spectacular.
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