REGION ENJOYS SPECTACULAR METEOR SHOWER
Written by author on August 13, 2015
THE South West of Scotland was one of the best areas to see the annual Perseid meteor shower late last night and early this morning.
The peak of the meteor shower was just after midnight BST on last night (WED) with 4am Thursday being the best time to see the shooting stars.
With yesterday’s fine weather and clear overnight skies, many people spent hours watching streaking meteors flash through the sky.
Astronomer Brendan Owens, at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said; “Every year I’ve taken the opportunity to go outside just before dawn. It is one of nature’s best night shows.”
On Wednesday the Met Office forecasts cloudy skies for most of the UK on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, which could interfere with seeing the meteors. Coastal areas around the England-Scotland border will have the best chance of clear skies.
The rest of the UK will have better chances of seeing the shower late on Tuesday night. For the best view look towards the east, although meteors can be visible in any part of the sky.
Spectators do not need a telescope to see the meteors, but astronomers recommend a blanket to wrap up warm and a deck chair to recline in, in order to view as much of the night sky as possible. A red light torch is good for preserving night vision, and it is best to avoid the use of mobile phones. One trick is to attach a red sweet wrapper over an ordinary torch with an elastic band.
