Perseid meteor shower
| 15:19 UK time, Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Some of you have been on the look out for the meteors recently including Mike Davies from Neath.
Last night he was out with his grandson in the Brecon Beacons. The weather was very misty and overcast but fortunately at Storey Arms the skies cleared for around two hours and they enjoyed a superb show.
Mike is a keen photographer and often sends in photos for me to show on my weather slot on Wales Today and he was captured these photos of the meteors.
The Perseid meteor showers belong to the comet . The meteors consist of dust-sized particles which burn up on entering the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 60 to 70 miles, as the Earth passes through the trail left by the comet. The impressive display can be traced as far back as 36 AD by Chinese astronomers.
The best way to observe them is to look towards the northeast after dark. They appear to originate from the constellation of Perseus, which at midnight lies just below the easily recognisable 'W' of Cassiopeia.
The shower can be seen every year from mid July and peaks around August 12. During the peak, the rate of meteors reaches 60 or more per hour with the highest frequency of meteors likely just before dawn.
This year's display will be hampered by the which means some of the fainter meteors may not be visible. If you're hoping to see them tonight head north where the cloud will be broken. Good luck !
Derek
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