"Stargazers Anticipate Spectacular Perseid Meteor Shower in August"

The Perseid meteor shower, associated with Comet 109/P Swift-Tuttle, will reach its peak on the night of August 12-13. Skywatchers in the northern hemisphere can expect to see up to 50 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The meteors are caused by small particles entering the Earth's atmosphere at high speed, creating streaks of light known as shooting stars. The best viewing time is before 03:00 BST, and no special equipment is needed to observe the meteor shower.