Perseid meteor shower: See photos of celestial show during peak activity

Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY
Updated ·1 min read

The Perseids, considered among astronomers to be the best meteor shower of the year, reached peak activity Sunday night.

Meteors whizzing across the night sky provided quite the celestial show to skygazers across the world, some of whom may have even caught of rare glimpse of the stunning northern lights at the same time.

While the Perseid meteors are active every year from July to September, mid-August happens to be when the activity reaches its peak. If you missed the display Sunday night, fear not: The Perseid meteor shower is expected to still be at its peak Monday night as well, according to the American Meteor Society.

In the meantime, check out these photos captured during the weekend of streaking meteors in the both U.S. and around the globe. Some are even backdropped by the famed aurora borealis.

Perseids to peak: When and how to watch the best meteor shower of the year

Perseid meteor shower: See photos of celestial display

The massive stone head sculptures at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adyaman, southeastern Turkey can be seen Sunday during the night of the Perseid meteor shower. The Perseid meteor shower was expected to reach peak activity between Sunday and Monday nights.
The massive stone head sculptures at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adyaman, southeastern Turkey can be seen Sunday during the night of the Perseid meteor shower. The Perseid meteor shower was expected to reach peak activity between Sunday and Monday nights.
This long exposure picture shows a meteor crossing the night sky early Monday over the Post-Camaldolese monastery in the village of Wigry, Suwalki region, during the annual Perseids meteor shower. The Perseids are so popular for skygazers because they peak not in the colder months like the Leonids of November or Geminids of December, but in the warm summertime.
A meteor streaks through the night sky early Monday during the annual Perseid meteor shower behind St Mark's Tower, a 17th century coastal fortification near the village of Bahar ic-Caghaq, Malta. During the Perseids' annual peak in mid-August, up to 100 meteors can be seen streaking across the night sky per hour, leaving long wakes of light and color behind them.
Astronomers observe the northern skies early Monday during the Perseid meteor shower in Kozjak, North Macedonia.. As long as skies are relatively clear this year, a half-illuminated moon should set by around 11:30 p.m. local time, making conditions favorable for viewing the Perseids during their Aug. 11-12 peak, NASA says.
Astronomers observe the northern skies early Monday during the Perseid meteor shower in Kozjak, North Macedonia.. As long as skies are relatively clear this year, a half-illuminated moon should set by around 11:30 p.m. local time, making conditions favorable for viewing the Perseids during their Aug. 11-12 peak, NASA says.
Astronomers observe the northern skies early Monday during the Perseid meteor shower in Kozjak, North Macedonia. The Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere.
Astronomers observe the northern skies early Monday during the Perseid meteor shower in Kozjak, North Macedonia. The Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere.
A view of the Milky Way early Monday during the annual Perseid meteor shower above Santo Tome del Puerto, in Segovia, Spain. Originating from the constellation Perseus, the Perseids are made up of leftover particles from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
A view of the Milky Way early Monday during the annual Perseid meteor shower above Santo Tome del Puerto, in Segovia, Spain. Originating from the constellation Perseus, the Perseids are made up of leftover particles from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
Two meteors streak past stars in the night early Monday during the annual Perseid meteor shower above Santo Tome del Puerto, in Segovia, Spain. The meteor shower is also famous for the fireballs it throws out. These large explosions of light and color can persist even longer than an average meteor streak, NASA says.
Two meteors streak past stars in the night early Monday during the annual Perseid meteor shower above Santo Tome del Puerto, in Segovia, Spain. The meteor shower is also famous for the fireballs it throws out. These large explosions of light and color can persist even longer than an average meteor streak, NASA says.
Meteors streak past stars in the night sky early Monday during the annual Perseid meteor shower above Santo Tome del Puerto, in Segovia, Spain.
Meteors streak past stars in the night sky early Monday during the annual Perseid meteor shower above Santo Tome del Puerto, in Segovia, Spain.

Northern lights coincide with Perseids

Perseid meteors appear to be streaking across the night sky early Monday in this long exposure picture showing the northern lights (aurora borealis) in Poland. Sights of the two celestial phenomena just happened to coincide this weekend.
Perseid meteors appear to be streaking across the night sky early Monday in this long exposure picture showing the northern lights (aurora borealis) in Poland. Sights of the two celestial phenomena just happened to coincide this weekend.
This long exposure picture shows a Perseid meteor streaking as the northern lights (aurora borealis) illuminate the sky early Monday above the Post-Camaldolese monastery in the village of Wigry, Suwalki region of Poland.
This long exposure picture shows a Perseid meteor streaking as the northern lights (aurora borealis) illuminate the sky early Monday above the Post-Camaldolese monastery in the village of Wigry, Suwalki region of Poland.

Contributing: Julia Gomez, USA TODAY

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Perseid meteor shower: See photos of show during overnight peak

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