Don't miss tonight's Perseid meteor shower!

The Perseid meteor shower is the most famous of all the meteor showers, providing an opportunity for non-enthusiasts to see a meteor.

Meteors are bright streaks of light that shoot across the sky so fast they can be seen in the blink of an eye. Commonly known as shooting stars, they can sometimes turn into bright fireballs that can last a few seconds.

The peak dates to see the Perseid meteor shower are between the 12-13 August with up to 100 meteors visible per hour. Clear skies have been forecast for tonight, so there's a good chance you will get to see it.

Here are some tips on how to enjoy The Perseids:

• Be patient: You don't need a telescope to see The Perseids, but they come in occasional showers so you may need to wait a little while.

• Avoid light areas: To get the best view, you will need to avoid areas where light sources will hinder your night vision. That may be easier said than done in the city.

• Watch between midnight and dawn: Most meteor showers are best after midnight, and the Perseids are no exception.

• Notice the speed and colours of the meteors: The Perseids are known to be colourful, and they are swift-moving, entering Earth’s atmosphere at about 35 miles per second (60 km per second).

• Watch for meteor trains: A good percentage of Perseids are known to leave persistent trains. A meteor train is a persistent glow in the air, left by some meteors after they have faded from view. They are caused by luminous ionized matter left in the wake of this incoming space debris.