Fans of the night sky were treated to a beautiful display last night, as a particularly spectacular Sturgeon Moon coincided with a meteor shower.
Those lucky enough to live in an area without too much light pollution were able to watch the Perseids near the peak of their activity.
The ‘shooting stars’ will be most visible around the world on Tuesday night, though the celestial spectacle began in mid-July.
It may be hard to spot them past the glare of the waning moon but the best shout is to look in the direction of the constellation Perseus which gives them their name.
Meanwhile, those in more urban areas on Saturday night could at least enjoy August’s bright full moon.
It is known as the Sturgeon Moon, from the name given by Native American tribes.
Here are some of the best pictures of it from around the planet.
What does the ‘Sturgeon Moon’ mean?
Different names are given to the full moon in each month of the year by Native American tribes.
For example, January has the Wolf Moon, April has the Pink Moon and July has the Buck Moon.
August’s full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon, a name provided by fishing tribes as sturgeons are particularly prevalent at this time of year.
Next month we’ll have what may be the best-known one, thanks to a beloved song by Neil Young – the Harvest Moon.
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