Rare Perseid Meteor Shower and Northern Lights Dazzle Stargazers Across the World – See Photos
Stargazers across the globe, including in the United States, got quite the treat over the weekend
Rick Kern/Getty
Meteor streaks across the sky during the Perseids meteor shower peak at Pedernales Falls State Park on August 12, 2024Stargazers had the best of both worlds over the weekend — and the photos are breathtaking.
On Sunday, Aug. 11, the rare Perseid meteor shower reached its peak, while many stargazers also got a glimpse of the latest northern lights display, making for quite the viewing, according to USA Today.
The Northern hemisphere in the pre-dawn hours was the ideal viewing location to see the Perseid meteor shower, but NASA said that it was also possible to see the meteors beginning as early as 10 p.m. local time, according to CBS News.
And the photos taken of the night sky across the globe, from New York and Texas in the United States, all the way to Spain and Turkey, were gorgeous.
Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty
Perseid meteor shower is observed as Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), colorful lights shift, illuminate the sky of New York, United States on August 12, 2024According to NASA, the Perseids is "the best meteor shower of the year" due to its beautiful appearance and bountiful display in the night sky.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Another feature of the shower? They're known to leave long "wakes" of light and color in their trail as they streak across the atmosphere.
Murat Sengul/Anadolu via Getty
Views of the Perseid meteor shower at Mount Nemrut Ruins in Adiyaman, Turkey.While spotting a shooting star is often rare, the Perseids are an exciting meteor shower due to the ample opportunities they give stargazers to spot one (or a few) as they whiz through the cosmos.
And in clear viewing conditions, approximately 50 to 100 meteors can be seen per hour.
Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty
Perseid meteor shower is observed as Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), colorful lights shift, illuminate the sky of New York, United States on August 12, 2024Related: How to Watch the Rare Double Meteor Shower at the End of July
Diego Radames/Europa Press via Getty
The skies in Madrid as the Perseid shower brought its light show to Spain on Aug. 12.If you missed out on Aug. 11 and Aug. 12, there's a chance to catch some straggling stars on Aug. 13 — however, the space organization noted the Perseids, which are active through Sept. 1, "tend to fall off rapidly after their peak."
The next meteor shower to peak after the Perseids are the Orionids. They peak between Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, though they are active from Sept. 26 through Nov. 22, 2024.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
