Ithis is the big one for meteor watchers. The annual Perseid meteor shower will peak on the night of August 12th into the early morning hours of August 13th. The chart shows the view looking north-east from London at midnight.
The moon will have 50% of its visible surface illuminated, and will set near midnight, leaving the sky as dark as possible to see the fainter of the meteors.
The Perseids will appear to emanate in all directions from their radiant point, located in the constellation of Perseus, the hero. They have been active since July 17th and will continue past the peak until around August 24th.
On the night of August 12, they will reach the peak of their activity and provide stargazers with between 60 and 100 meteors per hour. Even though it is August, and summer in the northern hemisphere, dress for warmth.
Meteorite viewing requires patience. Seasoned watchers often come equipped with blankets and deckchairs to be truly comfortable as the vigil stretches into the early hours.
Although the Perseids are best placed for observers in the northern hemisphere, the Perseids can also be seen in the mid-southern latitudes.
