Perseid Meteor Shower: How to Best Prepare for Them?

Skywatchers were today given advice on how to enjoy this year's display of Perseid meteors despite a full moon.

Every year in early August, the Perseid meteor shower -also called "the Perseids" - is one of the most fascinating sky events and widely anticipated by astronomers, professional and amateur throughout the world.

This year 2011, the Perseid peak activity is expected between Friday August 12th 2011 and Saturday 13<sup>th 2011 and while under ideal conditions up to 100 of the shooting stars an hour can be seen.

Unfortunately, there is a full Moon on the same day and analysts have warned it this will make observing difficult as the glare of the full moon will make it difficult to see the fainter meteors so star gazers are advised to escape the city lights and head out to the countryside where the stars and meteors will be at their brightest

"The Perseids are always an exciting meteor shower to watch out for. Even in large cities it's often possible to catch site of some of the brighter Perseid meteors streaking across the sky, but from a really dark site you can sometimes see dozens per hour,' Dr Marek Kukula, public astronomer at the Greenwich Royal Observatory in London said

"Despite this year's Perseid shower coinciding with the full moon it's still well worth going out for a look. The meteors can appear anywhere in the sky so try looking away from the bright moon to maximise your chances of seeing one," she added.

Philip Broadbent, National Trust Outdoors Programme Manager, said: "Its worth spending the time to find the perfect spot to gaze up at the stars; as once you're there looking into the night sky it will take your breath away.

"And the best thing is that it won't cost you a penny and this star time will always stay with you as one of those experiences that money can't buy."

Among the locations highlighted by the National Trust are the area around Stonehenge in Wiltshire and Mam Tor in the Peak District, high above Sheffield.

For more information on where to watch the Perseids, The National Trust has produced a handy online guide to star gazing and listed some of its best 'dark skies' locations to catch a glimpse of this special and natural light show.

This year the National Trust is working with the team at meterowatch.org (twitter.com/virtualastro)to track the meteors from the Perseid shower as they appear. Tweeting the hashtag #meteorwatch on twitter, with the first part of a postcode and how many meteors seen will build an interactive map of the UK. As well as the map, meteorwatch.org is where you can find all the tips you need for observing the Perseids and lots more info, their website says.