Perseid meteor shower to light up Irish skies after solar eclipseThe annual Perseid meteor shower is set to light up the night sky this week, providing a stunning display for astronomy enthusiasts across the UK and IrelandView 2 Images A Perseid meteor shower will be visible across Ireland (Image: VCG, VCG via Getty Images)Stargazers are in for a stunning spectacle as the annual Perseid meteor shower is set to follow a solar eclipse this week. ‌The best time to catch the Perseids will be in the early hours of Thursday morning, between midnight and 5.30am, while the solar eclipse will be visible throughout the UK on Wednesday evening before sunset. Every summer, the Earth passes through a trail of debris left in the wake of the Swift-Tuttle comet, which triggers the Perseid shower. View 2 Images The Perseid meteor shower (Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)‌The shower takes its name from the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate, within the constellation of Perseus. For those keen to catch the solar eclipse, experts have warned that specialist eclipse glasses are absolutely vital for safe viewing, as standard sunglasses simply do not offer sufficient protection.