Mary Reid

If only I could.

I've never managed to catch sight of the Perseid meteor shower that Earth passes through around 11th/12th August each year. Not that I haven't tried, but the light pollution round here makes it very difficult, and sometimes I am on holiday and just, well, forget.

Tonight is the best night to see them in several years. There is a new moon so the light from that direction is dimmed. But, as luck would have it, the sky is largely covered with cloud. Will keep looking and report any success.

11.10pm

I saw them!  The clouds cleared for a while and I just stared at Cassiopeia, getting quite an ache in the neck (how do real astronomers manage?). A couple streaked past in the corner of my eye, so I wasn't quite sure what I had seen. Then one as bright as a firework flew out, and I just gasped.

I've abandoned my perch up in the loft room because the clouds have reformed, but I can see an open area over to the west so will get back up there in a few minutes.

I can't see any chance of getting any photos of this phenomenon, unlike the eclipse of the moon back in March.