One of the year's most dramatic displays is set to light up the night sky tonight as the Perseid meteor shower will see 100 shooting stars zoom across the sky per hour.
The Perseid meteor shower is named after the constellation Perseus, where the meteors are believed to originate from, will last until August 24 but is set to peak from August 12 - 13.
The Perseids are known as one of the highlights of the stargazing calendar thanks to the vast number of shooting stars per hour and its bright meteors.
Meteor showers are caused by our planet running into the debris fields left behind by icy comets or rocky asteroids orbiting the sun, according to the New York Times. When these small particles burn up in the atmosphere, it creates blazing trails of light, which many stargazers will be looking to catch a glimpse of.
Because of the regularity of our orbit, most meteor showers happen at around the same time each year, but their visibility depends on the changing phases of the moon, as its brightness can make it hard to see the meteor shower.
The Perseids originate from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle which comes back often through the inner solar system.
The spectacular show will only be visible in the Northern Hemisphere, in latitudes below 60 degrees north, with Sky News reporting that they won't require any special equipment to see, however, it is best to view them from somewhere with little light pollution and to allow around 15 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.
The best time to attempt to see them will be between midnight and 5:30AM on Sunday when the night is darkest, and conditions are likely to be favorable as the moon will be at one of its slimmest crescent stages.
Nobody can predict exactly how many meteors are likely to be seen but experts have suggested it could be up to 100 per hour.
Royal Museums Greenwich advises: "Plan ahead and check the weather forecast. If it is likely to be inclement, find a different location or go out on a different day. The days leading up to the peak are usually better than the days after.
"Reduce the amount of light pollution in your field of view. This could mean heading out to the countryside, a nearby park or even do something as simple as turning your back to street lamps if you are not able to go anywhere.
"Give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the dark so that you can catch more of the fainter meteors – this does mean that you should not look at your phone!
"Meteors can appear in any part of the sky so the more sky you can see the better. Find an area with a clear view of the horizon and away from trees and buildings.
"Binoculars and telescopes are not necessary as they will restrict the size of the sky that will be visible to you."
It's sure to be a spectacular evening.
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