Perseid meteor shower 2017: Everything you need to know

Persied meteor shower Credit: PA Images

While the floats will be lighting up Jersey's battle parade route this weekend, nature will be putting on it's own display as shooting stars soar across the night skies.

The annual Perseid meteor shower can be seen from late July, but activity peaks on 12-13 August. During this time, up to 100 bright lights streak across the sky per hour, each lasting a few seconds.

Visible to the naked eye, the shower is a favourite among amateur stargazers and astronomers alike, with some meteors turning to fire balls.

The shower is made up of debris from the tail of Comet Swift-Tuttle and the chunks of rock light up as they fall from space through the atmosphere.

While the shooting stars may appear random and travel in different directions, the shower is named after the Perseus constellation, the point they appear to originate from in the night sky.

Tips for watching:

  • The best time to spot the shooting stars is between 11pm and 4am looking towards the northeast;

  • Find a spot away from town lights and allow your eyes to adjust to the dark for around 20 minutes;

  • Be patient as meteors may appear in clusters and be followed by a gap;

  • Wrap up warm!

The weather:Plenty of cloud and outbreaks of rain reduce the chances of seeing the stars tonight, but on Saturday and Sunday there will be some clear periods. While there won't be wall to wall views of the night sky, as the low clouds part (without any higher veil of cloud) the stars will be visible through the slots. The winds die down on Saturday night too so despite the slightly lower-than-average temperatures, it'll be a little more pleasant outside. It's still best to wrap up warm though!