Perseids: 2021's most active meteor shower in pictures

The Perseid meteor shower occurs every year from 23 July through to 24 August, when the Earth passes through the dust of the 109P/Swift-Tuttle comet. Dust particles hit the Earth's upper atmosphere and burn, which can be seen down on the ground as a meteor shower.

The shower peaked on the 12-13 August, but you still may be able to see some action over the next few nights, providing the sky is clear.

The results are a spectacular sight, so we've put together an image gallery of some of the best images of the light show from around the world.

Kuklice, Republic Of North Macedonia

Mandatory Credit: Photo by GEORGI LICOVSKI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (12275203j) Two hundred stacked digital images of long exposures show Perseid meteors crossing the sky over the stone dools in Kuklice, near the eastern city of Kratovo, Republic of North Macedonia, early 13 August 2021. The Perseid meteor shower occurs every year in August when the Earth passes through debris and dust of the Swift-Tuttle comet. Perseid meteor shower over the stone dools in Kuklice, Kratovo, Republic Of North Macedonia - 13 Aug 2021 — Two hundred stacked digital images of long exposures show Perseid meteors crossing the sky over the stone dools in Kuklice, near the eastern city of Kratovo, Republic of North Macedonia, early 13 August 2021. The Perseid meteor shower occurs every year in August when the Earth passes through debris and dust of the Swift-Tuttle comet. Photo by Georgi Licovski/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Pamir Plateau, China

XINJIANG, CHINA - AUGUST 13: A man watches the Perseid meteor shower on the Pamir Plateau on August 13, 2021 in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) — A man watches the Perseid meteor shower on the Pamir Plateau on 13 August 2021 in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Photo by VCG/Getty Images

Izmir, Turkey

Tatarstan, Russia

Guadalajara, Spain

Spruce Knob, USA

11th Aug, 2021. In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower, on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, in Spruce Knob, West Virginia. NASA Photo by Bill Ingalls/UPI Credit: UPI/Alamy Live News — In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower, on Wednesday 11 August 2021, in Spruce Knob, West Virginia, USA. NASA Photo by Bill Ingalls/UPI/Alamy

Didgori, Georgia

2GDG6W7 Meteors streak past stars in the night sky above the Battle of Didgori memorial complex during the annual Perseid meteor shower at Didgori, Georgia, August 13, 2021. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze — Meteors streak past stars in the night sky above the Battle of Didgori memorial complex during the annual Perseid meteor shower at Didgori, Georgia, 13 August 2021. Photo by Reuters/Irakli Gedenidze/Alamy

Check out some of our other great images:

Negev desert, Israel

The Milky Way galaxy is pictured as a Perseid meteor streaks across the sky above the Negev desert near the Israeli city of Mitzpe Ramon, on August 12, 2021, during a yearly meteor shower, which occurs when the earth passes through the cloud of debris left by the comet Swift-Tuttle. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images) — The Milky Way galaxy is pictured as a Perseid meteor streaks across the sky above the Negev desert near the Israeli city of Mitzpe Ramon, on 12 August 2021, during the yearly meteor shower. Photo by Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images

Norfolk, UK

A meteor during the Perseid meteor shower seen over Happisburgh lighthouse, Norfolk. Sky gazers are set to be treated to a light display next week as Earth passes through debris left behind by a comet. Issue date: Friday August 6, 2021. — A meteor during the Perseid meteor shower seen over Happisburgh lighthouse on the 6 August, Norfolk, UK. Photo by Joe Giddens/Alamy

Piano Visitone, Italy

This image of a meteor streaking through the sky was taken at Piano Visitone. Photo by Giuseppe Donatiello — This image of a meteor streaking through the sky was taken at Piano Visitone, Southern Italy, on the 6 August 2021. Photo by Giuseppe Donatiello

Porma Lake, Spain

James CutmorePicture Editor, BBC Science Focus

James Cutmore is the picture editor of BBC Science Focus Magazine, researching striking images for the magazine and on the website. He is also has a passion for taking his own photographs

Perseids: 2021's most active meteor shower in pictures

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