Perseid meteor shower: Meteor shower captured across UK skies

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The meteor shower was seen clearly from the village of Rievaulx near Helmsley in North Yorkshire

Stargazers captured the dazzling display of the annual Perseid meteor shower as it reached its peak on Wednesday night.

The display is a big deal this year because the shower is happening at the same time as a new moon for the first time since 2007, creating a darkened sky.

Clouds spoilt visibility for some parts of the country.

But northern England, the Midlands, Scotland and Wales had clear viewing conditions.

Comet Swift-Tuttle

The Perseids - which are pieces of Comet Swift-Tuttle - are active each year from around 17 July to 24 August, although for most of that period only a few meteors an hour are visible.

The peak of the display happens when the shower's "radiant" - the point from which the meteors appear to originate - is highest in the sky.

Video caption, Your photos of the Perseid meteor shower - so far - in 60 seconds

For most people, meteor showers are best viewed with the naked eye.

Experts advise finding a dark location, away from artificial light, and an unobstructed view of the sky.

Some skywatchers have already glimpsed Perseid meteors this week.

Chris Boundey spent Monday night at Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland, saying the meteors "seemed to be coming thick and fast overhead".

Image source, NASA

Image caption, An image of a Perseid seen from above, taken by astronaut Ron Garan on the International Space Station in 2011