Missed the Perseid meteor shower? Final dates to see shooting stars revealed – and best locations to watch

IF you missed the peak of the Perseid meteor shower over the week - fear not.

While the display was the most dramatic between 11 and 13 of August, with up to 100 shooting stars per hour, there are still more to come.

Some skygazers in counties in the north of England like Northumberland, as well as parts of Scotland, Wales and Ireland even saw a double-display of the Perseids and the Northern Lights.

While the strong geomagnetic storm on Monday night has eased, the Perseids will continue.

The annual meteor shower is the debris left behind Comet Swift-Tuttle, which comes around every 20 to 200 years.

It was last seen in 1992, and in 1862, 1737 respectively.

The average speed for a Perseid meteor is around 36-miles-per-second, which will decorate the sky with fast, bright meteor trains.

Perseid (Per-see-id) is "one of the most dramatic things to see in the night sky between July and August," according to the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

While the shower peaked this weekend, it will be active until 24 August.

Auroras – how do they work?

Here's the official explanation from Nasa...

• The dancing lights of the auroras provide spectacular views on the ground, but also capture the imagination of scientists who study incoming energy and particles from the sun
• Auroras are one effect of such energetic particles, which can speed out from the sun both in a steady stream called the solar wind and due to giant eruptions known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs
• After a trip toward Earth that can last two to three days, the solar particles and magnetic fields cause the release of particles already trapped near Earth, which in turn trigger reactions in the upper atmosphere in which oxygen and nitrogen molecules release photons of light
• The result: the Northern and Southern lights.

Best locations to watch

The meteor shower, which began on 17 July, is best seen between midnight and 5:30am - when the sky is darkest.

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There are tons of spots across the UK where you can see the Perseids, and future meteor showers, this month.

Typically, rural spots are better - but that doesn't mean you can't spot shoot stars in and around London.

Lake District National Park – North West England

The Lake District, a popular UK holiday destination, flaunts mountain terrain and lakeside views.

However, it also benefits from low levels of light pollution and therefore makes an great destination to see shooting stars - as long as the night is clear.

Exmoor National Park – South West England

Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve, the first Dark Sky Reserve in Europe, is mostly free from light pollution.

Some say it has the darkest skies in the country, which is perfect for catching cosmic displays.

Although it's important to remember how the Moon influences the brightness of the sky.

It's best to go stargazing when the Moon is in crescent.

The Park also has a number of campsites and accommodations that are Dark Sky Friendly, so you can witness shooting stars from the comfort of your camp.

Snowdonia National Park – Wales

The Snowdonia National Park, home to the highest peak in Wales, covers roughly 18 per cent of the country's land area.

So it's safe to say there is minimal light pollution, and as a result, has some of the best stargazing spots in the UK.

There are also plenty of stargazer-friendly places to stay.

Hampstead Heath and Observatory

Hampstead Heath, one of the highest points in London, is also home to one of the biggest parks in the capital.

This means the area can be a good one to escape some of the city's light pollution - and catch some shooting stars.

It's also home to Hampstead Observatory, which is open to the public every Friday and Saturday night from mid-September to mid-April - depending on the weather.

What is a meteor shower?

Here's what you need to know...

• During a meteor shower, fireballs appear to streak across the sky
• This happens because pieces of debris are rapidly burning up as they eneter Earth’s atmosphere
• That debris is often left behind by a collision between two space objects, like a planet or comet
• The Orionids shower is debris from Halley’s Comet, a huge chunk of ice orbiting the Sun
• Many meteor showers are repeated
• They occur at a height of around 62 miles

Rules of thumb

It's important to note that the Perseids might be harder to spot during the longer summer nights.

Here are four tips to give yourself the best chance of seeing them:

Avoid light pollution

Stargazers should head to a location well away the city lights, the glow of a town, and even that of street lamps.

"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," the Royal Greenwich Observatory advises.

Put the phone away

You should give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the dark so you can see the fainter meteors.

This means you need to put that phone screen down.

Unobstructed view

Make sure that your stargazing spot has an unobstructed view of the horizon and above.

Away from treelines or cityscapes is best.

"Meteors can appear in any part of the sky so the more sky you can see the better," the Observatory adds.

Ditch the binoculars

Binoculars won't be needed to spot shooting stars.

They can also limit your view of the sky, and in trying to get a more detailed look, you could miss all the action that's happening out of frame.

What's the difference between an asteroid, meteor and comet?

Here's what you need to know, according to Nasa...

• Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun. Most are found in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter) but they can be found anywhere (including in a path that can impact Earth)
• Meteoroid: When two asteroids hit each other, the small chunks that break off are called meteoroids
• Meteor: If a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it begins to vapourise and then becomes a meteor. On Earth, it’ll look like a streak of light in the sky, because the rock is burning up
• Meteorite: If a meteoroid doesn’t vapourise completely and survives the trip through Earth’s atmosphere, it can land on the Earth. At that point, it becomes a meteorite
• Comet: Like asteroids, a comet orbits the Sun. However rather than being made mostly of rock, a comet contains lots of ice and gas, which can result in amazing tails forming behind them (thanks to the ice and dust vaporizing)