The Perfect Night Sky: A Photograph of the Perseid Meteor Shower, Northern Lights, and SAR Arc

Photographer Josh Dury captured a breathtaking image during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. The photograph not only captured the meteor shower but also the northern lights and a rare atmospheric glow known as an SAR arc. Dury chose the 11th Century Corfe Castle as the setting for his image, and the photograph also contains popular skywatching targets such as the Andromeda Galaxy and the Triangulum Galaxy.

The Perseid meteor shower is an annual event that occurs in August. It is caused by the Earth passing through the debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet. As the debris enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it burns up and creates a streak of light in the sky. The meteor shower is named after the constellation Perseus, as the meteors appear to originate from that area of the sky.

The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are a natural light display that occurs in the polar regions. They are caused by particles from the sun colliding with the Earth’s atmosphere. The particles are drawn towards the Earth’s magnetic poles, where they collide with gas particles and create a colorful display of light.

The SAR arc, or Steiner arc, is a rare atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when light is refracted through ice crystals in the atmosphere. It creates a bright arc of light that is visible above the horizon.

Dury’s photograph captures the beauty of the night sky and the wonders that can be seen if we take the time to look up. It reminds us of the vastness of the universe and the mysteries that still await discovery.