When and where to see the Perseid meteor shower in the UK

Gaze at up to 150 shooting stars per hour as they light up the sky

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Gaze at up to 150 shooting stars per hour as they light up the sky

By Eve Walker12 Aug 2022
4 mins read time
4 mins read time

What’s better than a cold shower in a heatwave? The Perseid meteor shower, that's what. With up to 150 shooting stars catapulting through the sky every hour, this is one of the highlights of the year for stargazers and astronomers alike. Want to find out how, when and where you can see the Perseid meteor shower? Keep reading for all the details...

As if the showers weren’t already exciting enough, Perseids are known for fireballs – described by NASA as “larger explosions of light and colour that can persist longer than an average meteor streak”, and there’s a good chance you’ll spot some. During these warm summer nights you can lie comfortably on a blanket all night and see one of the brightest showers of the year in all their glory. Don’t miss out on this spectacular (and free!) light show.

What is a meteor shower?

There are up to six meteors visible each hour throughout the year that pop up spontaneously. During a shower, however, the Earth passes through clouds of debris, which are left behind by comets. These tiny grains of dust enter the atmosphere at high speeds, creating large amounts of friction between them and the air. As this happens, the dust burns up, resulting in a flash of light that shoots across the sky.

Every meteor shower is named after the point in the sky where the meteors start from. In this case, it is the constellation Perseus.

Where can I see the Perseid Meteor Shower in the UK?

Perseids are visible all over the world, but the best view will be in the northern hemisphere as this is where Perseus can be seen. To know your gaze is on the right track, look out for the middle of a triangle formed by the W or M-shaped (depending on your location) constellation of Cassiopeia, the Pleiades star cluster and the bright star Canopus. Perseus sits in between these, so focusing on this area will be your best bet for seeing showers.

But don’t worry too much if you can’t figure out where to look. If you keep your eyes peeled long enough, letting your eyes adjust to the dark, you should be able to spot some action.

What’s the best time to look for the Perseid Meteor Shower?

The prime time for some serious meteor shower displays will be the night of 12 August and just before dawn on 13 August. There’s also a decent chance of seeing some shooting stars in the surrounding days. We recommend checking the weather for cloud coverage and aiming for a clear night.

If the timings don’t work for you, there’s no need to fret. The Royal Observatory explains: “The radiant of the Perseids is actually always above the horizon as seen from the UK, which means that observers in the UK should be able to see some meteors as soon as the Sun sets."

“Therefore, it is worth looking up in the early evening”, the Royal Observatory continued.

Unfortunately, the full moon will obscure some views of the meteor showers. Aim for places with the least amount of light pollution possible – while parks and fields are ideal, they aren’t always possible (or safe) to attend late at night. If you’re viewing from home, turn off all your lights and try to look for a view that isn’t obstructed.

How to get the best view of the Perseid Meteor Shower?

Don’t miss out on the Perseid Meteor Shower: follow these tips and advice from David Moore from Astronomy Ireland and Terry Moseley from the Irish Astronomical Society, as reported in The BBC.

  • Let your eyes adjust to the dark for 20 minutes (stay off your phone!)
  • Lie down on a blanket or get in a reclining chair to give yourself a wide view of the sky
  • Look at the sky with the moon behind you, preferably behind a building
  • Point your gaze towards towards the east as the night wears on (prime time is in the hours just before dawn)