Thousands of sky watchers and amateur photographers have caught on camera the annual Perseid meteor shower or shooting stars that were on its peak on 11-12 August across the world.
Thousands of sky watchers and amateur photographers have caught on camera the annual Perseid meteor shower or shooting stars that were on its peak on 11-12 August across the world.
The Perseids shower, which is one of the most famous of all showers, occurs annually starting from mid-July to mid-August. The peak time when one can expect the best view of bright streaks of light that shoot across the sky is expected to be the last night.
This year the peak dates were between 11-12 August when more than 100 meteors were seen in the sky.
People from across the world posted photos of the celestial event on social networking sites showing the spectacular cosmic light show with shooting stars.
The Perseid showers are caused when Earth and its atmosphere travels through a region of the sky filled with leftover debris from a particular comet, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) explained.
The Perseid showers are associated with comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 133 years.
"The Perseids have been observed for at least 2,000 years and are associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun once every 133 years. Each year in August, the Earth passes through a cloud of the comet's debris. These bits of ice and dust - most over 1,000 years old - burn up in the Earth's atmosphere to create one of the best meteor showers of the year," NASA explained.
"The Perseids can be seen all over the sky, but the best viewing opportunities will be across the northern hemisphere. Those with sharp eyes will see that the meteors radiate from the direction of the constellation Perseus."
For those who were unable to watch the annual Perseid meteor shower due to bad weather, here are some photos and videos that captured the shooting stars from across the world
Scroll down to check the video and photos of Meteor shower:
A meteor streaks over the northern skies in the early morning during the Perseid meteor shower north of Castaic Lake, California August 12, 2013. REUTERS/Gene Blevin
Stargazers come out to watch the Perseid meteor shower early on Monday morning north of Castaic Lake, California August 12, 2013. REUTERS/Gene Blevins
Aerospace photographer Bill Hartenstein uses his iPhone to help take photos of the Perseid meteor shower early on Monday morning north of Castaic Lake, California August 12, 2013.REUTERS/Gene Blevins
(L-R) Los Angeles photographers Shawn Kaye, Scott Meadows and Steve Gentry set their cameras pointed to the stars during the Perseid meteor shower early on Monday morning north of Castaic Lake, California August 12, 2013. REUTERS/Gene Blevins
A meteor streaks over the North Star in the northern skies during the Perseid meteor shower early on Monday morning north of Castaic Lake, California August 12, 2013. REUTERS/Gene Blevins
A general view of Stonehenge during the annual Perseid meteor shower in the night sky in Salisbury Plain, southern England August 13, 2013. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty
A photographer looks at his camera during the Perseid meteor shower at Stobi archeological site, which was the largest city in the northern part of the Roman province Macedonia and later capital city of the Roman province Macedonia Secunda, early August 13, 2013. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski
A long exposure shot shows a plane flying over the sea during a lightning storm on the last day of the annual Perseid meteor shower, near the popular tourist destination of Cancun, August 12, 2013. REUTERS/Victor Ruiz
A general view of Stonehenge during the annual Perseid meteor shower in the night sky in Salisbury Plain, southern England August 13, 2013. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty
A meteor streaks over the northern skies during the Perseid meteor shower at Stobi archeological site, which was the largest city in the northern part of the Roman province Macedonia and later capital city of the Roman province Macedonia Secunda, early August 13, 2013. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski
