Look to the skies - supermoon and meteor shower tonight

Astronomers should be in for a double treat tonight, if the skies are clear.

A supermoon, where the moon appears larger and brighter than usual, is due to rise.

The next supermoon will peak in Ireland on 11 August @ 1:38am when the moon will be 354,157km from earth. Send us... http://t.co/POp7CBhbtb

— Astronomy Ireland 🪐 🔭 🛰 (@AstronomyIRL) August 9, 2014

A meteor shower is also predicted.

The #Perseid meteor shower occurs every August when x20 more shooting stars can be seen than normal.

Although... http://t.co/WUfZ7QTFuV

— Astronomy Ireland 🪐 🔭 🛰 (@AstronomyIRL) August 9, 2014

NASA scientist Michelle Thaller says the brightness of the moon may make some of the meteors harder to see.

"This is a regular meteor shower that happens every year, and it actually happens because we pass through a cloud of debris which is from an old comet which actually died and broke up and actually left a particle cloud in our solar system.

"The slightly unfortunate thing is that the moon will be up and very bright - so … it may make some of the meteors more difficult to see."