Perseid Pictures: Meteor Shower Seen From Space, Earth

Perseids' Stony Onlookers

Photograph by Ognen Teofilovski, Reuters

Natural rock formations shaped roughly like human figures seem to stare at the heavens during this year's Perseid meteor shower in a picture taken August 13. Hundreds of the stone "stargazers" stand in the village of Kuklici, about 49 miles (80 kilometers) east of Skopje, the capital of Macedonia.

In general, meteors are produced when small pieces of space dust impact Earth's atmosphere at high speeds: "The streak of light we see is this debris burning up because of friction with the atmosphere," the Oregon science museum's Todd said. In the case of the Perseids, the grains that make meteors are leftover pieces from the comet Swift-Tuttle.

Published August 15, 2011

Turbine Shower

Photograph by Fotis Mavroudakis, My Shot

The streak of a Perseid meteor seems to cut through the blade of a wind turbine in a picture taken August 13 in Kavala, Greece.

As with other annual meteor showers, the Perseids are named after the constellation from which they appear to radiate—in this case, the constellation Perseus. (Take a Perseid meteor shower quiz.)

Published August 15, 2011

Meteor "Rain" in Spain

Photograph by Jon Nazca, Reuters

Layered limestone formations stand guard as a Perseid meteor streaks over El Torcal de Antequera, a nature reserve in southern Spain, on August 13.

To get the best views of the Perseids this year, the Oregon science museum's Todd recommended heading to areas free from light pollution and facing toward the constellation Perseus, from which the meteors seem to originate.

"Your best chance for spotting the meteors will be to move away from the urban city lights and view meteors in dark rural locations in the early morning hours, when the radiant is highest in your local sky," he said.

Published August 15, 2011

Meteor Shower Moon Gazing

Photograph by Jon Nazca, Reuters

A sky-watcher in Spain's El Torcal de Antequera nature reserve uses binoculars to gaze at the moon during the Perseid meteor shower on August 13. Glare from a full moon washed out some of the meteors during this year's peak.

However, even before the peak, sky-watchers around the world were reporting an average of 10 to 15 Perseids an hour, including surges of activity featuring brighter-than-average meteors, called fireballs, racing across the sky.

And there's still a chance to see some streaks as the Perseids shower winds down.

"If you don't see any meteors for a while, don't be discouraged," Todd said. "It's important to remember that sometimes meteors come in dramatic bursts rather than steadily throughout the night."

See more Perseid pictures >>

Published August 15, 2011