Discover the cosmosEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
Explanation:Known for its bright and fast meteors, the annual Perseid Meteor Showercomes toplanet Earth’s skiesfrom a radiant in the heroic constellation Perseus.
The popular northern summer celestial spectacle is created as grains of dust cast offalong the orbitof periodic comet 109P/Swift-Tuttlevaporizein Earth’s dense atmosphere, tracing brief, but beautifulstreaks through the night.
Taken near the shower’s peak of activity on August 12, this composite image recorded two bright perseid meteors and one meteor’s watery reflection from a location near the coastal village of Grisslehamn, Sweden.
Almost as bright as Altair, brightest star on the scene, the meteors appear along with the faint, diffuse background of the Milky Way.
This year, the shower’s peak activity coincided with a New Moon, so perseid meteor flashes were undiminished bybright moonlight.
And for many skywatchers, this night of bright perseid meteors followedtheir viewingof the silhouette of the New Moon in a much anticipatedsolar eclipse.
Growing Gallery:Solar Eclipse of 2026 August 12Tomorrow’s picture:Milky Way over Yellowstone