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Explained: What is the Perseid meteor shower?

People across the south have been looking to the skies, hoping to catch a glimpse of shooting stars.

The annual Perseid meteor shower sees fragments from Comet Swift-Tuttle burn up upon entering the Earth's atmosphere.

Data suggests the best viewing time for stargazers is the 12 August, when skies are at their clearest.

Dr Nikhil Mistry, Head of Curiosity at Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium, explains the science behind it all.

Picture credit: Getty Images

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5 minutes

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