Another read: "Keeping awake with strong tea and anticipation."

And another enthused: "I've just seen a bright iridium satellite flare up."

The Perseids shower shoots across the sky every August when the Earth passes through dust debris left by the comet Swift-Tuttle.

Public astronomer Marek Kukula from The National Maritime Museumsaid the meteor shower will be at its strongest in Britain from Wednesday afternoon until Thursday morning.

But he warned: "Light pollution from artificial sources such as street lights, bulbs and cars reflects off cloudy dust in the atmosphere which gives it that orange glow, and makes it hard to see faint objects."

A Perseid meteor streaks towards the horizon

The meteors - made up of small particles the size of a grain of sand - collide with the Earth's atmosphere at high speeds, creating up to 80 streaks of light per hour.

Mr Kukula points out, however, that light from the last quarter moon will drown out the meteor shower's brightness.

And there are other factors which can reduce its impact.

"This means you will be unlikely to see 80 per hour," he said.

"You may see the few brightest ones. It's best to see the meteor shower at night in rural areas."

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Perseids-Meteor-Shower-Due-To-Startle-Stargazers-In-The-UK/Article/200908215358796?lpos=UK_News_News_Your_Way_Region_1&lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15358796_Perseids_Meteor_Shower_Due_To_Startle_Stargazers_In_The_UK