On the night of August 12th to 13th, the most beautiful and spectacular Perseid meteor shower once again graced the summer sky, providing astronomy enthusiasts with an unparalleled visual feast.
As one of the meteor showers with stable annual activity, the Perseid meteor shower is one of the most anticipated astronomical events of the summer, and it is the only one among the three major meteor showers in the northern hemisphere that does not occur in winter. The Perseid meteor shower begins in mid-July each year and continues until the end of August. However, the peak activity period of the Perseid meteor shower is typically around August 13th each year.
This year, the peak occurred at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on August 12th. For viewers in North America, the best observation time fell on the late night of August 12th to the early morning of August 13th. The meteors within the Perseid shower move at a faster speed, approximately 59 kilometers per second, and exhibit a blue-green color with a higher frequency of bright meteors. Under ideal conditions, viewers can expect to see between 50 to 100 meteors per hour during the peak period.
However, observation conditions were more challenging this year, as the brightness of the full moon and unstable weather conditions may have obscured some of the spectacular sights. Astronomical experts recommend choosing a location away from light pollution and viewing from midnight to early morning to still have a chance of capturing the most dazzling meteor displays.
Below, please enjoy the stunning images of the Perseid meteor shower captured by professional photographers in various locations around the world.