Twinkle, twinkle shooting stars snapped in sky
ISN’T this one of the prettiest photographs of shooting stars you’ve ever seen?
Paul Cummings captured the Perseid meteor shower at Blyth beach in Northumberland, and shared his photographs.
He was one of the lucky and persistent few who...
A) Went out during the peak of the meteor shower. The Perseids continue until around August 24 – so do keep a look out! – but this weekend was the peak of the annual event, when as many as 80 meteors per hour can sometimes be seen.
B) Stayed up late to see the phenomenon – after midnight is best.
C) Paul found a gap in the clouds which covered much of the North East and make any star gazing impossible.
And D) he escaped the light pollution of cities and towns by heading to the seashore. Other great stargazing sites include North Northumberland’s listed Dark Skies.
Paul, of paulcummingsphotography. co.uk, was not the only reader to see the light show, which included some larger meteors like the one photographed by Chris Wilson in County Durham, close to the Northumberland border at Allenheads on Saturday, August 12. He described it as a fireball, and you can see why.
He also captured two in one shot, along with a fellow stargazer. It looks very light in the photograph, and while the small hours are undoubtedly best for meteor-watching, the brightest ones can be seen in daylight.
Chris did stay up late, however, and said: “It was a long and cold night, but worth it.”
Karen Rose-McGuckin took her photograph in her garden at Bournmoor, Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne and Wear. Karen, of www.krmphotography.co.uk shared the picture for all to enjoy.
If you do miss the Perseids, then put the Geminid meteor shower in your diary.
It takes place from December 4-16, peaking on the 13th. Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies.
You don’t need any special equipment and it’s easiest if you can take a mat and sleeping bag to lie as you watch.
The meteor shower occurs when the Earth passes through the path of asteroid 3200 Phaethon and the debris in its trail burns up as it enters the Earth’s atmosphere.