'Celestial fireworks' forecast over Ireland as Perseid meteor shower hits peak

A display of celestial fireworks is expected to light up the night skies this weekend as the Earth passes through a cloud of cometary dust, producing up to 100 meteors every hour.

If skies are clear, the Perseid meteor shower should be visible across Ireland throughout the weekend, peaking on Monday August 12.

According to Astronomy Ireland, the Perseids have been observed for around 2000 years, and are the result of Earth passing through a cloud of dust left behind Comet Swift-Tuttle.

As Earth moves through this cloud, the particles fall into our atmosphere and burn up, creating spectacular streaks of light in the sky, known as meteors or shooting stars.

This shower is named after the constellation Perseus, from which the meteors appear to come from in the sky. 

The showers fall so close, and so frequently during peak times that you don't need a telescope to observe them.

Astronomy Ireland are encouraging the public to get out and count as many meteors as possible over the weekend and during the peak on Monday.

"Count how many meteors you see every 15 minutes (if possible, start on the hour or quarter past the hour), and note it down. Then email us your report with your name, location, and the night you observed," the group said on their website, also sharing a template of how to report findings with them.