Budding astronomers can catch the Perseid meteor shower, one of the most highly anticipated and observable stellar events, at its peak tonight. The shower started in midsummer this year and will last for more than a month in total as the Earth passes through the Swift-Tuttle comet trail. Meteor numbers and rates increase every night between July 16 and August 23.

       The Perseids only reach their peak, known as a "maximum", for two days.

       In 2021, people can catch the Perseid maximum between August 12 and 13.

       According to the Greenwich Observatory, clear skies will yield "bright and fast" meteors tonight.

       The constituent Perseids will show up as streaks thanks to their light as they manifest "trains".

       And they will pass at a rate of roughly 150 per hour as they reach their peak.

       Accounts suggest successful viewers will join 2,000 years of observation, despite the shower's official discovery in the 19th century.

       Not everyone will get to catch a glimpse, however, as they will need specific conditions to align.

       [THIS IS A LIVE BLOG: SCROLL DOWN FOR REGULAR UPDATES]

       9pm update: Scientists hail the Perseid maximum

       Scientists have started hailing the incoming maximum via social media.

       Noted astronomer Neil DeGrasse Tyson took to Twitter to explain the beauty behind the spectacle.

       He wrote: "Each year around this time, Earth plows through the debris-trail of Comet Swift-Tuttle.

       "At our orbital speed of 67,000 mph (30km/s) the particles burn harmlessly in our atmosphere, rendered aglow as shooting stars."

       8.15pm update: Where is Perseus in the sky?

       The Perseids get their name from the Perseus constellation, where the shower seems to originate from.

       Perseus gets its name from the legendary Greek hero, and sits in the northern sky.

       Astronomers can pick it out from its place next to Andromeda.

       7pm update: Where is the best place to watch the Perseids?

       The Perseids are a dazzling display, but they will look their best without interruption from other light sources.

       As such, people will want to avoid the city where they can.

       If possible, they should consider a brief trip to the country, where light pollution is vastly reduced.

       Somewhere high up will help provide the best vantage point, given the meteor shower will streak across the entire sky.

       6.15pm update: What time will the Perseids reach 'maximum'?

       Dedicated astronomers will have been keeping their eyes peeled for the Perseids since last month.

       They won't reach their peak until tonight, however, and won't be at their most visible until the night is darkest.

       The Greenwich Observatory states the best time to watch is between "midnight and the early hours of the morning".

       They specified people will have the best opportunity around 12am to 5.30am.