NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Image to left: Perseid meteor over El Paso, Texas. Photo credit: Jim Gamble

Although the peak of the 2003 Perseid meteor shower is still a week away, sky watchers are already spotting some Perseids. This one, for instance, appeared over El Paso, Texas, just last night. Recorded by one of the Sandia Meteor Detection Network's all-sky cameras, the exploding fireball was almost as bright as a full moon.

Earth is only in the outskirts of the Perseid meteoroid stream now. If you go out tonight looking for meteors, don't expect to see many. Sometimes, though, one is enough.

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Find out more about the Perseid meteor shower.
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Credit: Dr. Tony Phillips
SpaceWeather.com