Shooting stars return

The annual meteor shower known as the Perseids will be at its most intense in Lanzarote tonight, the 31^st of July.

The “tears of San Lorenzo”, as the phenomenon has been named (it usually arrives around St Laurence’s Day on 10^th August) will be especially visible on a night that’s likely to have clear skies and a waning moon.

To catch a falling star, you’re better off getting up early rather than staying up late, as they are most visible in the hours before sunrise due to the gravitational pull of Earth. You’re also much better off getting out of towns and cities, where light pollution also affects the display of shooting stars.

The Perseids are the subject of John Denver’s signature song, Rocky Mountain High, in which the singer describes it “raining fire from the sky”.