Perseids Meteor Shower 2015

There are several seasonal events that I always try and be out in the hills for, the Solstices, the equinoxes and Lyrid and Perseids meteor showers. Weather always plays a part in these events and their potential but when it comes to meteor showers not only are clear skies an important element but the moon also comes into play with a new moon being the best phase to give dark skies ( something the Brecon Beacons has become very famous for ).

The Perseids are dust and debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle that burn up in our atmosphere as we crash through it.  You may recognise the silhouette in the image as its my local go to spot ( Sugarloaf Mountain ) for things happening in the northern sky such as the Aurora. To get the best from these events I do tend to spend the whole night out in the hills and set up my gear to record a timelapse sequence.

The shower peaks on the night of the 12th but due to weather I was out on the night of the 11th and even though I do find these events fascinating and humbling I don`t think 2015 was the best shower I have seen but travelling though the universe at  8.5 miles/sec and expecting to collide with few grains of sand will always be a bit hit and miss so to speak but on to the next event and the autumnal Equinox.