Astronaut Snaps Spectacular Meteor Photo From Space

News | Space

NASA astronaut Ron Garan photographed a "shooting star" from the International Space Station

By Denise Chow and SPACE.com ?| August 15, 2011

FROM ON HIGH: NASA astronaut Ron Garan took this photograph during the Perseid meteor shower on August 13, 2011, from the International Space Station. Image: NASA/Ron Garan (@Astro_Ron)

The annual Perseid meteor shower peaked this weekend, and one astronaut living aboard the International Space Station captured a stunning view of the light show from space.

NASA astronaut Ron Garan photographed a "shooting star" streaking through Earth's atmosphere on Saturday (Aug. 13), as the space station orbited roughly 220 miles (354 kilometers) above the planet.

"What a 'Shooting Star' looks like #FromSpace," Garan wrote in a message on Twitter, where he posts photos and updates on his space mission.

The Perseid meteor shower peaked Friday (Aug. 12), and despite competing with a bright full moon, many skywatchers around the world were treated to dramatic views.

Every August, Earth passes through a stream of dust particles and debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle. As the specks of dust hit the top of Earth's atmosphere at blistering speeds of up to 140,000 miles per hour (250,000 kph), they burn up and form bright meteors that can be seen across the sky. [Skywatcher Photos: The 2011 Perseid Meteor Shower]

The meteors stream out of the constellation of Perseus, which is how the light show got the name "Perseids." International skywatchers observed up to 20 meteors per hour during the height of this year's Perseid meteor shower, according to the website Spaceweather.com.

This year, the meteor shower's peak coincided with the full moon of August, which likely outshone some of the fainter Perseids that would normally be visible darting across a darker sky.

While Garan's cameras were trained on Earth during the meteor shower, his current home in space?the International Space Station?made a series of early morning flybys over the U.S.

But, don't fret if you missed last week's meteor shower, there are plenty of other skywatching events in August to catch. You just have to know when to look up.

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