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2018 Perseid meteor shower sizzles across the sky

It's perhaps the best known and most impressive annual meteor shower, making it one of the most widely photographed too.

Eric Mack
Eric Mack has been a CNET contributor since 2011. Eric and his family live 100% energy and water independent on his off-grid compound in the New Mexico desert. Eric uses his passion for writing about energy, renewables, science and climate to bring educational content to life on topics around the solar panel and deregulated energy industries. Eric helps consumers by demystifying solar, battery, renewable energy, energy choice concepts, and also reviews solar installers. Previously, Eric covered space, science, climate change and all things futuristic. His encrypted email for tips is ericcmack@protonmail.com.
Eric Mack
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1 of 14 Bill Coulter

Perseids over Kansas

Each August, the Perseid meteor shower lights up the night sky, sending patient photographers outside with their best gear.

Photographer Bill Coulter caught this dusky view with Perseids and Mars accompanying the Milky Way over Hillsdale Lake in Kansas.

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2 of 14 David Pratt

Medieval meteors

David Pratt chose a historic spot to photograph the Perseids over the Gatehouse in Northumberland, UK.

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3 of 14 Jim Denny

Aloha, meteors!

Flickr photographer Jim Denny caught Perseids and palm trees from the island of Kaua'i, Hawaii.

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4 of 14 Thomas R. Grubbe

Perseids at the Pinnacles

This stunning image is a four-shot pano from the Trona Pinnacles in the California Desert National Conservation Area. 

"I managed to get Mars, Jupiter and several Perseid meteors in this series of shots," says photographer Tom Grubbe.

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5 of 14 Rex Robichaux

Family time

Nothing like a night under the (shooting) stars, according to Virginia shutterbug Rex Robichaux.

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6 of 14 Luis Felipe Sanchez

On the (star) trails

Luis Felipe Sanchez used time-lapse photography to grab star trails and a few Perseids on the night of August 10 to 11.  

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7 of 14 Nick Lucas

Excellence over England

Nick Lucas photographed Perseids backed by a purple sky from the southern UK.

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8 of 14 Richard Lay

Behind the shed

Beauty can be found behind outbuildings, as in this snap from UK photographer Richard Lay.

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9 of 14 Mike Lewinski

Enchantment

New Mexico earns its nickname -- Land of Enchantment -- in this photo from Mike Lewinski of Tres Piedras.

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10 of 14 Luis Calcada

A gathering over Germany

Luis Calcada created this composite of seven shots, looking at the center of the Milky Way from Ammersee, near Munich, Germany.

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11 of 14 Colin McIntosh

Garden party

Colin McIntosh shot this stunner from his garden in Hampshire, UK.

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12 of 14 Steve Knight

Cruising through Cygnus

Steve Knight captured the shower against the Cygnus, the swan. 

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13 of 14 Mika Wist

What a Finnish!

Mika Wist created this composite of some early Perseids flying to their ends over Finland.

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14 of 14 Steve Geliot

Solo shooting star

"The best of a bunch I caught of the Perseids last night, battling with a foggy lens here and there," says UK photographger Steve Geliot. "I love the colours in the tail."

The Perseids can still be seen in lower number through late August and will return again in full force next year. 

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