Shooting stars 'great' tonight

Astronomers are predicting a natural firework display in our skies overnight as debris from the Comet Swift Tuttle is set to travel through the atmosphere at 36 miles/second.

The meteor shower happens every year from mid July to end of August, but this year is expected to be particularly visible due to the moon not being too bright.

Astronomer Heather Couper told the Today programme's Evan Davis that early Tuesday morning will be the best time to see the Perseid meteor shower.

"It's going to be great this year," she said.

"There have been reports from all over the world that there have been over 30 shooting stars an hour."

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday 12 August 2013.