Perseid meteor shower to light up skies with 100 shooting stars every hour

Stargazers are in for a breathtaking spectacle as the Perseids meteor shower reaches its peak tonight. NASA has hailed it as the "most popular meteor shower of the year". The Royal Observatory reports that the meteor shower has been active since July 17 and will continue until August 24. Throughout recent nights the displays have been growing more intense, with expectations that it will reach its most dazzling peak on Tuesday.

Meteorite specialist Dr Ashley King, from London's Natural History Museum, recommended that those hoping to witness the meteor shower should position themselves on a hill in rural areas - or travel to a coastline. Viewers should attempt to stay away from brightly-lit and urban areas whilst seeking clear, unobstructed vantage points to maximise the experience.

Dr King advised: "Once you get used to the low light levels, you'll begin to notice more and more. So don't give up too quickly."

This year's Perseids meteor shower may be somewhat obscured by the moon, which is predicted to be 84% bright, according to NASA. The lunar glare could potentially drown out the brightest meteors, but stargazers can mitigate this by positioning themselves behind a tall building or tree to block some of the moonlight.

The Perseids event has been occurring for centuries and is caused by Earth passing through a cloud of dust left by Comet Swift-Tuttle, as reported by The Mirror.

The meteors are typically tiny - no larger than a grain of sand - and they burn up upon entering Earth's atmosphere. Travelling at approximately 36 miles per second, these small particles create brilliant trails of light.

Named after the constellation Persus, from where the meteors appear to originate, the Perseids are renowned for their fireballs. These are distinguished by larger explosions of light and colour that linger in the sky longer than an average meteor streak.