The Astronomical Society of Malta is inviting the public to join it at L-Ahrax tal-Mellieha from 10.30 p.m. today to watch the Perseids meteor shower.

Society public relations official Saviour Grech said anyone spending the night out would also surely notice a bright red 'star' in a southerly direction.

This is the planet Mars which will be closer to earth towards the end of this month than it has ever been for the past 60,000 years.

In fact, Mr Grech said, Mars will be closest to earth on August 27.

The Astronomical Society is dedicating its second astronomy week round this event, organising lectures and observation sessions for the public.

Mr Grech explained that tonight was again the "night of the stars" as earth encounters the comet Swift-Tuttle in its orbit around the sun, sweeping tiny particles, from sand grain to pea size rocky debris left over by the comet as it slowly disintegrates on its journey round the sun.

"Over the centuries its crumbly remains have spread all along its orbit to form a sparse river of rubble hundreds of millions of miles long.

"These particles are travelling at about 37 miles per second relative to earth and upon striking the upper atmosphere a whitehot streak of superheated air is created as the particle burns up which we see as a shooting star," Mr Grech said.

This year, light from a full moon will steal part of the show as the fainter meteors will not be visible.

Hence it is best to observe well past midnight when the moon will be getting lower in the sky.

www.maltastro.org