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Meteorites

Perseid Meteor Shower to Light Up UK Skies

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most spectacular celestial events of the year, and it will peak tonight in the UK skies, bringing a dazzling display of shooting stars to Bolton and the rest of the country. This beautiful spectacle occurs when Earth passes through the debris of Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, causing meteors to vaporise and leave behind a bright trail of light. The peak is expected on August 12, and the shower will remain active until August 24, with up to 100 meteors visible in the night sky.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Perseid meteor shower is one of the brightest and fastest meteor showers of the year, with meteors colliding with the Earth's atmosphere at speeds of between 7 and 45 miles per second.
  • The average speed for a Perseid meteor is 36 miles per second, creating a spectacular display of shooting stars.
  • The air in front of the meteor is squashed and heated to thousands of degrees Celsius, causing smaller meteors to vaporise and leave behind a bright trail of light, while larger meteors can explode as fireballs.
  • The best conditions for viewing the meteor shower include a clear sky, the darkest possible conditions away from artificial light, and allowing the eyes time to adapt to the lower light levels.
  • The Perseid meteor shower will remain active and visible in the UK skies until August 24, with a peak expected on August 12.
  • The Royal Museums Greenwich provides information on the Perseid meteor shower, highlighting its unique characteristics and viewing conditions.

Statistics:

  • Up to 100 meteors will be visible in the night sky during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
  • The shower will remain active and visible in the UK skies until August 24.
  • The average meteors will collide with the Earth's atmosphere at 36 miles per second.
  • The air in front of the meteor will be heated to thousands of degrees Celsius, causing meteors to vaporise and leave behind a bright trail of light.
  • A clear sky and darkest possible conditions away from artificial light will create the best possible conditions for catching a glimpse of the display.

Sources:

  • Royal Museums Greenwich

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