Stargazers will have another chance to see the Perseid meteor shower on Tuesday night, after a dazzling display illuminated by the northern lights.
Shooting stars took to the skies across the UK last weekend as the meteor shower reached its peak on Monday night.
In areas as far north as Northumbria, North Yorkshire and parts of Scotland, some people have seen a double display of the Perseids and the Northern Lights.
Although the geomagnetic storm that causes the colorful aurora subsides, the meteor show will remain active until August 24.
The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, describes the shower as „one of the most dramatic things to be seen in the night sky between July and August”.
The annual meteor shower consists of debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, which occurs every 20 to 200 years. Perseid meteors have an average speed of 36 miles per second, leaving behind bright meteor trains.
Marina Muttick, 29, who watched the northern lights and Perseid meteor shower from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, said: „Looking at the night sky is always humbling, and the Perseid meteor shower is perfect for making a few wishes.”
Rain is best seen between midnight and 5.30 am when the sky is dark. To improve the chance of catching a glimpse of the celestial show, stargazers are advised to go to a dark area at night, turn away from streetlights, and avoid looking at phones to adjust their vision.
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It is recommended that Perseids be viewed out of the corner of the eye, as peripheral vision is more sensitive to low light conditions than central vision.
National parks such as the Lake District, Exmoor and Snowdonia are great places to see Perseids unobstructed. High inner-city locations such as Hampstead Heath and the Royal Observatory in London also offer a clear view.
Dr Ed Bloomer, senior astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, said that while the spectacle was fun to watch with others, the Perseids’ fleeting appearance was a unique experience.
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