Is there a meteor shower tonight? What to know as annual event follows solar eclipse

Astronomy enthusiasts are in for a double celestial display on Wednesday night, as a solar eclipse is followed by the annual Perseid meteor shower.

According to the Royal Astronomical Society, the shower ranks among the most impressive of the year and should be visible throughout the UK, provided weather conditions remain clear.

Skywatchers can catch the solar eclipse ahead of sunset on Wednesday evening, with the optimal window for spotting Perseids coming in the early hours of Thursday morning, between midnight and 5.30am.

The society noted that early observers may even spot a few meteors shortly after dusk.

Every summer, the Earth slams into a trail of debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet which causes the Perseids.

The meteoroids from the comet, mostly no bigger than a grain of sand, burn up as they hit the Earth’s atmosphere at 36 miles per second, to produce a shooting stream of light in the sky.

The shower meteors are named after the point in the sky where they appear to originate in the constellation of Perseus.

Those hoping to catch the shower have been advised to stay away from artificial light, avoid built-up areas if possible and try to find an unobstructed view of the sky.

Unlike many celestial events, meteor showers are easy to watch and no special equipment is needed, the society said.

Although the shower is set to peak overnight on 12 to 13 August, the shower will be active until 24 August.

Clear skies are forecast for much of the UK on Wednesday evening and into the early hours of Thursday, according to the Met Office.

For those wishing to view the solar eclipse, experts have warned that eclipse glasses are important for safe viewing and that sunglasses are insufficient.

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