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The peak of the Perseid meteor shower coincided with a powerful geomagnetic storm, causing the Northern Lights to be visible over the weekend into the early hours of Monday morning, providing viewers around the world with a stunning light spectacle.
During the Northern Lights, a Perseid meteor streak appears over the North Sea.
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The Perseid meteor shower – one of the most eagerly awaited meteor showers of the year – peaked between Sunday night and Monday morning, but is expected to remain visible until its end on September 1.
The meteor shower sent shooting stars streaking across the sky, and experts predicted that more than 50 meteors could be seen per hour, according to the American Meteor Society.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued geomagnetic storm warnings for the period from last Friday through Sunday night, and another strong Category G3 geomagnetic storm was observed on Monday, causing the Aurora Borealis to coincide with the peak of the Perseids and be visible in the United States and other countries.
Solar activity has been unusually high in recent months as the 11-year solar cycle approaches its expected peak between late 2024 and early 2026. Over the next year, sunspots are expected to become stronger and likely trigger more geomagnetic storms.
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A meteorite impact on Monday morning in Johnson City, Texas.
The Perseid meteor shower and the Northern Lights over a house in New York.
Perseid meteor passes over Madrid, Spain.
The Northern Lights and the Perseid meteor shower over a tree line in New York.
The Perseid meteor shower over the ruins of Mount Nemrut in Turkey.
The Northern Lights in Poland early Monday morning.
Two meteorite impacts over the Camaldolese monastery in Poland.
Meteors move across the night sky over a field of sunflowers during the Perseid meteor shower in Spain.
The Northern Lights over a German beach.
The Northern Lights over Bamburgh Lighthouse in England.
