Meteor shower from Pierre-Percee lake area in France
A meteor crosses the night sky next to the milky way, early August 12, 2018 in Pierre-Percee lake area, eastern France, during the annual Perseid meteor shower . PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images
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This story was originally published on PopPhoto.com.

The annual Perseids meteor shower reached its peak over the weekend providing stargazers and astro photographers with a spectacular show. Thanks to the waxing crescent moon, dark skies created ideal conditions for meteor viewing and shooting.

During today’s early morning hours observers could see approximately 60-70 meteors per hour. Unlike the eclipse earlier this year, the spectacular show was visible on both sides of the equator. The dark skies made this year’s shower one of the brightest ever.

The star show will continue through August 24, although the number of visible shooting stars will diminish. You don’t need a telescope to see the showers, but you should try to head somewhere rural with minimal light pollution for ideal viewing and shooting conditions. The next large meteor shower is the Orionids, which is expected to peak on October 21.

Here are some of our favorite images captured over the weekend during this celestial event.

The Annual Perseid Meteor Shower over Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

The annual Perseid meteor shower photographed from Bryce Canyon National Park.
Meteor Shower over Spruce Knob, West Virginia at night

Spruce Knob, West Virginia

A 30 second exposure of a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower on August 12, 2016.
Meteor shower from Pierre-Percee lake area in France

Pierre-Percee, France

A meteor crosses the night sky next to the milky way, early August 12, 2018 in Pierre-Percee lake area, eastern France, during the annual Perseid meteor shower .
A shooting star appears next to the Milky Way in the sky above Walchensee lake

Einsiedl, Germany

The annual Perseid meteor shower above Walchensee Lake.
meteor falling over Sankt Coloman church in Germany at night

Fussen, Germany

A meteor crosses the night sky on early August 12, 2018 behind the Sankt Coloman pilgrimage church in Fussen, southwestern Germany, during the annual Perseid meteor shower.
Perseid meteor shower at the east dam of the High Island Reservoir in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, China

A meteor crosses the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower at the east dam of the High Island Reservoir in Hong Kong on of August 13, 2018.
Perseid meteors streaks across the sky in Turkey

Inegol, Turkey

Perseid meteors streaks across the sky over Inegol district of Bursa, Turkey on August 13, 2018.
2018 Perseid meteor shower over Klinovka village

Crimea

The 2018 Perseid meteor shower over the village of Klinovka, Simferopol District.
Meteor shower over the night sky with a stork sitting in its nest

Yatskovichy, Belarus

Perseids meteors cross the night sky over a stork sitting in its nest in the village of Yatskovichy, some 374 km southwest of Minsk, on August 13, 2018.
Meteor shower over the night sky past the Milky Way

Tannourine, Lebanon

Meteors crossing the night sky past the Milky Way during the annual Perseid meteor show in the mountain area of Tannourine in northern Lebanon.
Seven Magic Mountains art installation during Perseid Meteor Shower

Jean, Nevada

A Perseid meteor streaks across the sky above the ‘Seven Magic Mountains’ art installation early on August 13, 2018.

This story was originally published on PopPhoto.com.

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