SKY watchers in Donegal will be treated to a spectacle tonight as this year’s best meteor shower coincides with the new moon, creating the potential for seeing up to 100 “shooting stars” per hour.
Mr Kenneth McDonagh of the Donegal Weather Channel told the Donegal News that if the sky is clear, people should get out and check out the meteor shower.
The Perseid meteor shower is the biggest of the year with more than 100 meteors at the peak. This is expected to start tonight and will last into Thursday morning.
He also said that over the next few nights there will be loads of meteorites in the sky. “Make sure to check them out and if you have a camera, get snapping, because the Perseid shower also has the best chances of big Fireballs.”
FORECAST
Mr McDonagh said clear skies are forecast for viewing as the weather will settle and become a little warmer. He added: “Believe me folks, this meteor shower never fails to let people down. It is the best all year and I have seen some nice fireballs coming from this shower over the past few years. So please, get out there and enjoy.”
WHERE TO LOOK
“They can pop up any where really but if you look to the northern Skyline at the north star (Polaris) or just east of it you should some very nice meteorites.
We will see even more this year due to the moon phase being 4 per cent on Wednesday night for the peak meaning there will be less light from the moon and more in the way of dark skies.”
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