I don't mean to alarm you, but space is happening right now.
The Perseid meteor shower occurs every August as the planet Earth drifts through the remains of an ancient comet. As those small bits of rock and ice hit our atmosphere, they heat up until they glow, hurtling through the sky as meteors.
This year, on the evenings of August 11 and 12, we'll be closer than ever to those comet remains. And the view is spectacular.
1. Check out this shot from Spruce Knob, West Virginia.
Image via NASA/Bill Ingalls.
2. And this one from Bryce Canyon, Utah.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images.
3. Over in the U.K., photographer Dan Kitwood planted himself outside the ruins of Corfe Castle.
Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.
4. And the photos ... well ... the photos speak for themselves.
Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
5. Yeah.
Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
6. In this time lapse, you can see the stars whirl across the sky, with meteors showing up like lines across the grain of wood.
Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.
7. That must have been an awesome night.
Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.
If you want to see these awesome night sky scenes for yourself, try going somewhere with a clear view of the sky.
Often, that means finding somewhere far away from the city — artificial light can drown out the meteors' glow.
And if you can't make it out this year, rest easy. Those meteors be back again next August.