Meteor shower and supermoon set to light up Derbyshire’s night sky

Stargazers across Derbyshire are being urged to look up to the night sky as an annual meteor shower begins.
Eyes to the skies!Eyes to the skies!
Eyes to the skies!

The Perseid meteor shower occurs when debris from the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet, which last passed near Earth in 1992 and is not due to return until 2125, collides with the atmosphere.

The spectacle – which is expected to produce 100 shooting stars per hour – will peak between August 10 and August 13.

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A Met Office spokesman urged residents to wrap up warm, go outside, lie back and look up during the early hours.

The spokesman added: “To see the meteor shower, you don’t need a telescope, binoculars or any other equipment – all you need is your eyes.

“You don’t need to look in any particular direction as meteors appear randomly anywhere in the sky.”

It promises to be a special month for stargazers as a supermoon – when the celestial body is closer to Earth than normal, making it look exceptionally bright and large – will grace the night sky on August 10.

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A spokesman for Nasa said: “During the second week of August, the biggest and brightest full moon of the year will face off against everyone’s favourite meteor shower – and the outcome could be beautiful.”

• If you get any pictures or video of the Perseid meteor shower and supermoon in Derbyshire, email [email protected]