I have a new article published over on my Across the Universe blog for The Guardian.

"The Perseids, the year's most spectacular meteor shower for viewers in the northern hemisphere, arrive this weekend

The Perseid meteor display is upon us. Over the course of the next four days, Earth will plough through the debris stream left by a giant comet that has been circling the sun since the birth of the solar system.

Each tiny cometary fragment that hits our atmosphere is usually no larger than a speck of dust. Yet it burns up with an incandescent display that we call a shooting star. If you want to get technical about it: a meteor.

This year, the Perseids will be visible from the northern hemisphere between 11 and 14 August. ..."

You can read the full article here.