bbc.co.uk navigation

11 August 2012 Last updated at 16:59

UK set for annual Perseid meteor shower

Meteor over Stonehenge in August 2010

Calling all stargazers - the UK is set to enjoy a spectacular meteor shower this weekend!

It's the annual Perseid meteors and the best time to see them is on Sunday morning before dawn.

The Perseids are actually tiny pieces of a comet and the showers happen every year in August when the Earth passes through a cloud of the comet's debris.

They're bits of ice and dust, which can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a pea.

The meteors hit the Earth's atmosphere at a whopping speed of 134,000 mph.

It's thought this weekend we could see as many as 100 meteors an hour!

More on This Story

  • Watch NewsroundWatch Newsround

    Watch the latest update from Newsround, CBBC's news programme for children.

BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.