
The annual Perseids meteor shower has been lighting up the sky since July 17, with stunning images of the shower appearing over various sites around the world.

If you have missed out on seeing the display, there is good news - the shower will peak tonight and tomorrow.

Additionally, Mars, Saturn and the moon are set to align tonight, so you may be able to see a bright triangle lighting up the sky.

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Yesterday, the meteor shower could be seen over Hatchet Pond in Hampshire. The best time to look for the shower will be around midnight when there is a dark sky

PERSEID METEOR SHOWER Based on records, the normal rate of the Perseid meteor shower is to see 50 to 75 meteors per hour. But according to Nasa, the rate will double this year to about 150 to 200 meteors per hour. The peak of the Perseid meteor shower will be on Aug 11 and 12, when there also happens to be a darker-than-usual sky forecast, which will make the shower even clearer to see. Advertisement

Catching a glimpse of the meteor shower will very much depend on your location.

However, the best time to watch the sky for these shooting stars will be around midnight.

Because meteors can be quite faint, it is best to look out for them in a dark sky, free of moonlight and artificial lights.

In the UK, some of the top spots to view the meteor shower include Galloway Forest Park and Sherwood Forest.

However, if you are unable to see the shower, YouTube channel, Slooh, will be live-broadcasting the spectacle.

The meteor shower occurs as Earth crosses the orbital path of Comet Swift-Tuttle.

Debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle bursts into the Earth’s upper atmosphere at around 130,000 miles (210,000 km) per hour, lighting up the sky with fast-moving Perseid meteors.

Meteors can be quite faint, so it is best to look out for them in a dark sky, free of moonlight and artificial lights. Pictured is the meteor shower seen over Ladram Bay in Devon

This image shows the Perseid Meteor Shower over The Scorhill Stone Circle in Dartmoor, Devon during this year's shower

As well as the meteor shower, Mars, Saturn and the moon are set to align this evening. A large triangle should be seen, with the moon appearing to be white, Mars a bright orange, and Saturn a yellow colour

The Perseids has been occurring since July 17, and will carry on throughout August. The stunning spectacle can be seen in various locations across the globe, including Ladram Bay in Devon (pictured)

Viewers in Devon were treated to an absolute spectacle, as the meteor shower could be seen over Bigbury on Sea (left) and Orcombe Point (right)

Debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle bursts into the Earth’s upper atmosphere at around 130,000 miles (210,000 km) per hour, lighting up the sky with fast-moving Perseid meteors. In this image, the Perseid Meteor Shower seen over The Scorhill Stone Circle in Dartmoor, Devon

The normal rate of the Perseid meteor shower is to see 50 to 75 meteors per hour. But according to Nasa, the rate will double this year to about 150 to 200 meteors per hour. Pictured is the shower seen over Budleigh Salterton in Devon

The meteor shower occurs as Earth crosses the orbital path of Comet Swift-Tuttle. This image was taken at The Scorhill Stone circle in Darmoor

Since meteoroids that create a meteor shower all move on a parallel path, and at the same speed, they seem to originate from a single point in the sky to observers on Earth, known as the radiant.

Meteor showers are usually named after the constellation that their radiant lies in.

For example, the Perseids meteor shower gets its name because it appears to radiate from the constellation Perseus.

Because the Perseids shower occurs at a similar time as the Delta Aquarids shower, it can be confusing trying to understand which one you are seeing.

However, you can trace the meteors back to find their radiant to work out which constellation they have originated from.

Viewing the sky from the Northern Hemisphere, the Delta Aquarids will appear to come from the south, while the Perseids will come from the north.

Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, the Delta Aquarids will appear to originate just overhead, and the Perseids will stem from the north.

Based on records, the normal rate of the Perseid meteor shower is 50 to 75 meteors per hour but according to Nasa, the rate will double this year to about 150 to 200 meteors per hour.

WHERE TO VIEW THE METEOR SHOWERS Viewing the sky from the Northern Hemisphere, the Delta Aquarids will appear to come from the south, while the Perseids will come from the north. Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, the Delta Aquarids will appear to originate just overhead, and the Perseids will stem from the north. Advertisement

As well as the meteor shower, Mars, Saturn and the moon are set to align this evening.

A large triangle should be seen, with the moon appearing to be white, Mars a bright orange, and Saturn a yellow colour.

When seen from the Northern Hemisphere, viewers should see the triangle in the southwest, while when viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, viewers should see the convergence higher up in the sky.

The Perseids meteor shower gets its name because it appears to radiate from the constellation Perseus. Pictured is the shower seen over Burgh Island in Devon

Since meteoroids that create a meteor shower all move on a parallel path, and at the same speed, they seem to originate from a single point in the sky to observers on Earth, known as the radiant

The peak of the Perseid meteor shower will be on Aug 11 and 12, when there also happens to be a darker-than-usual sky forecast, which will make the shower even clearer to see