Rare Perseid Meteor Shower and Northern Lights Dazzle Stargazers Across the World – See Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

Meteor streaks across the sky during the Perseids meteor shower peak at Pedernales Falls State Park on August 12, 2024.Photo:Rick Kern/Getty

Rick Kern/Getty

Stargazers had the best of both worlds over the weekend — and the photos are breathtaking.On Sunday, Aug. 11, the rarePerseid meteor showerreached its peak, while many stargazers also got a glimpse of the latestnorthern lightsdisplay, making for quite the viewing, according toUSA 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 toCBS 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.Perseid meteor shower is observed as Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), colorful lights shift, illuminate the sky of New York, United States on August 12, 2024.Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via GettyAccording 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 forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto 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.Views of the Perseid meteor shower at Mount Nemrut Ruins in Adiyaman, Turkey.Murat Sengul/Anadolu via GettyWhile 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.Perseid meteor shower is observed as Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), colorful lights shift, illuminate the sky of New York, United States on August 12, 2024.Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via GettyThe skies in Madrid as the Perseid shower brought its light show to Spain on Aug. 12.Diego Radames/Europa Press via GettyIf 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.

Stargazers had the best of both worlds over the weekend — and the photos are breathtaking.

On Sunday, Aug. 11, the rarePerseid meteor showerreached its peak, while many stargazers also got a glimpse of the latestnorthern lightsdisplay, making for quite the viewing, according toUSA 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 toCBS 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.

Perseid meteor shower is observed as Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), colorful lights shift, illuminate the sky of New York, United States on August 12, 2024.Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty

Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty

According 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 forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto 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.

Views of the Perseid meteor shower at Mount Nemrut Ruins in Adiyaman, Turkey.Murat Sengul/Anadolu via Getty

Murat Sengul/Anadolu via Getty

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.

The skies in Madrid as the Perseid shower brought its light show to Spain on Aug. 12.Diego Radames/Europa Press via Getty

Diego Radames/Europa Press via Getty

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.

source: people.com