Perseid meteors over Teide Observatory, Tenerife, Spain
© Westend61/Getty Image
Make a wish. Perseid meteor shower over Tenerife, Spain
Not every summer tradition happens on the ground. Some take place hundreds of miles overhead, one meteor at a time. The Perseids return every year from mid-July through late August, reaching their peak around August 12-13. Visible across much of the world, they often produce dozens of meteors per hour under dark skies. Picture yourself looking up. One streak appears after another. How many can you spot before you lose count? Each streak comes from debris shed by Comet Swift-Tuttle as Earth moves through its dust trail. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus.
Today's image shows the shower above Teide Observatory in Tenerife, Spain. This high-altitude site sits about 7,840 feet above sea level. Its high elevation, thin air, and low levels of light pollution make it an excellent place to observe the night sky. Some Perseid meteors leave glowing trails that linger for several seconds, giving skywatchers just enough time to appreciate the spectacle. So, where will you watch the Perseids this year?
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