This weekend saw the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower, a yearly celestial event which lights up the night skies across the world.
Lyrids are pieces of debris from the periodic Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which combust as they enter the Earth's atmosphere, producing a kaleidoscope of red, white, yellow, green and blue lights.
In some places, the show was framed by the the heavenly glow of the aurora borealis, as was so beautifully captured in the video below, which was produced by Kameron Barge on Lake MacDonald in Glacier National Park, Montana.
The phenomenon, also known as the Northern Lights is caused by storms erupting on the surface of the Sun, which throw matter towards Earth.
This year an astronaut on board the International Space Station was on hand to attempt the first-ever 3D photography of meteors from space.
Operating a camera from 400km above Earth’s surface, Don Pettit was part of a three-pronged attempt by Nasa to capture the shower from space, observatories on Earth and from a research balloon in the stratosphere. The pictures aren't up yet, but we're very excited about them.
In mid-April every year, Earth passes into the stream of debris from the comet, causing the shower. Lyrids have peak meteor rates of between 10-100 per hour.
Did you catch a snap of the Lyrid shower? Email us your pictures using the hashtag #lyrids to ukpicturedesk@teamaol.com
The Aurora Borealis above Great Slave Lake in Canada’s Northwest Territories
Launch Slideshow
?
HIDE THUMBNAILS
1 of 10
PLAY ALL
ADVERTISEMENT
[{"entry_id":"3449671","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/16\/taksim-square-_n_3449671.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303315\/slide_303315_2574922_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303315\/slide_303315_2574922_small.jpg","title":"Taksim Square ","slideshow_id":"303315","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3440345","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/14\/gregory-steinmedc-farmer-survives-circular-power-saw-embeds-stomach-graphic-pictures_n_3440345.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/23960\/slide_23960_1364379_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/23960\/slide_23960_1364379_small.jpg","title":"Wild X-Rays And Medical Photos","slideshow_id":"23960","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3460538","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/18\/brazil-protests_n_3460538.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303697\/slide_303697_2583296_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303697\/slide_303697_2583296_small.jpg","title":"Rio de Janeiro Protests","slideshow_id":"303697","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3446072","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/15\/queen-trooping-the-colour_n_3446072.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303265\/slide_303265_2573859_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303265\/slide_303265_2573859_small.jpg","title":"Trooping The Colour","slideshow_id":"303265","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3453384","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/nick-griffin-nigella-lawson-row-pictures-twitter_n_3453384.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303415\/slide_303415_2577653_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303415\/slide_303415_2577653_small.jpg","title":"Nigella Lawson","slideshow_id":"303415","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3452872","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/boris-johnson-playing-ten_n_3452872.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303403\/slide_303403_2577410_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303403\/slide_303403_2577410_small.jpg","title":"Celebrity Tennis Match - AEGON Championships 2013 ","slideshow_id":"303403","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3449738","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/16\/pope-blesses-harley-davidson-bikers_n_3449738.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303320\/slide_303320_2574977_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303320\/slide_303320_2574977_small.jpg","title":"Pope Blesses Harley Davidson Riders ","slideshow_id":"303320","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3440586","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/14\/homosexuality-not-tolerated-pakistan-google-searches-gay-porn_n_3440586.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/301474\/slide_301474_2538798_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/301474\/slide_301474_2538798_small.jpg","title":"Global Divide On Homosexuality ","slideshow_id":"301474","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3452946","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/madeleine-mccann-news-home-office-fund-scotland-yard-investigation-_n_3452946.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/222510\/slide_222510_1548385_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/222510\/slide_222510_1548385_small.jpg","title":"Madeleine McCann","slideshow_id":"222510","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3445657","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/15\/iran-elections-hassan-rouhani_n_3445657.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303101\/slide_303101_2571455_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303101\/slide_303101_2571455_small.jpg","title":"Iran Votes","slideshow_id":"303101","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3457628","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/18\/met-office-weird-weather-climate-_n_3457628.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/269563\/slide_269563_1877606_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/269563\/slide_269563_1877606_small.jpg","title":"Weird Weather 2012","slideshow_id":"269563","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3450355","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/16\/ian-brady-moors-murders-keith-bennet_n_3450355.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/300264\/slide_300264_2512800_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/300264\/slide_300264_2512800_small.jpg","title":"Murderers Who WIll Die in Prison","slideshow_id":"300264","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3458346","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/18\/lamb-ears-hacked-off-wears-homemade-bonnet-picture_n_3458346.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303650\/slide_303650_2582477_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303650\/slide_303650_2582477_small.jpg","title":"Nelson The Sheep","slideshow_id":"303650","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3453747","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/second-avenue-subway_n_3453747.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303428\/slide_303428_2577818_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303428\/slide_303428_2577818_small.jpg","title":"Second Avenue Subway","slideshow_id":"303428","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3452471","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/rouhani-cameron-iran-g8_n_3452471.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303379\/slide_303379_2577206_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303379\/slide_303379_2577206_small.jpg","title":"G8 Summit Belfast","slideshow_id":"303379","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3454157","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/taksim-square-protesters_n_3454157.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/301200\/slide_301200_2533431_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/301200\/slide_301200_2533431_small.jpg","title":"Turkey Protests","slideshow_id":"301200","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3452691","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/dalai-lama-female-compassion-sensitivity_n_3452691.html","content_type":"quote","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/236354\/slide_236354_1174183_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/236354\/slide_236354_1174183_small.jpg","title":"77 Wise Sayings By The Dalai Lama On His 77th Birthday","slideshow_id":"236354","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3441561","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/14\/pope-francis-meets-justin-welby_n_3441561.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303088\/slide_303088_2571153_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303088\/slide_303088_2571153_small.jpg","title":"Pope Francis meets the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby","slideshow_id":"303088","vertical":"uk"}]
A slideshow of northern lights taken in Fairbanks, Alaska, last month
Launch Slideshow
?
HIDE THUMBNAILS
1 of 13
PLAY ALL
VOTE ON THIS SLIDE
ADVERTISEMENT
[{"entry_id":"3453384","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/nick-griffin-nigella-lawson-row-pictures-twitter_n_3453384.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303415\/slide_303415_2577653_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303415\/slide_303415_2577653_small.jpg","title":"Nigella Lawson","slideshow_id":"303415","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3445657","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/15\/iran-elections-hassan-rouhani_n_3445657.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303101\/slide_303101_2571455_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303101\/slide_303101_2571455_small.jpg","title":"Iran Votes","slideshow_id":"303101","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3452872","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/boris-johnson-playing-ten_n_3452872.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303403\/slide_303403_2577410_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303403\/slide_303403_2577410_small.jpg","title":"Celebrity Tennis Match - AEGON Championships 2013 ","slideshow_id":"303403","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3452471","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/rouhani-cameron-iran-g8_n_3452471.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303379\/slide_303379_2577206_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303379\/slide_303379_2577206_small.jpg","title":"G8 Summit Belfast","slideshow_id":"303379","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3454157","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/taksim-square-protesters_n_3454157.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/301200\/slide_301200_2533431_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/301200\/slide_301200_2533431_small.jpg","title":"Turkey Protests","slideshow_id":"301200","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3440345","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/14\/gregory-steinmedc-farmer-survives-circular-power-saw-embeds-stomach-graphic-pictures_n_3440345.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/23960\/slide_23960_1364379_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/23960\/slide_23960_1364379_small.jpg","title":"Wild X-Rays And Medical Photos","slideshow_id":"23960","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3458346","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/18\/lamb-ears-hacked-off-wears-homemade-bonnet-picture_n_3458346.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303650\/slide_303650_2582477_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303650\/slide_303650_2582477_small.jpg","title":"Nelson The Sheep","slideshow_id":"303650","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3450355","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/16\/ian-brady-moors-murders-keith-bennet_n_3450355.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/300264\/slide_300264_2512800_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/300264\/slide_300264_2512800_small.jpg","title":"Murderers Who WIll Die in Prison","slideshow_id":"300264","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3453747","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/second-avenue-subway_n_3453747.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303428\/slide_303428_2577818_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303428\/slide_303428_2577818_small.jpg","title":"Second Avenue Subway","slideshow_id":"303428","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3440586","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/14\/homosexuality-not-tolerated-pakistan-google-searches-gay-porn_n_3440586.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/301474\/slide_301474_2538798_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/301474\/slide_301474_2538798_small.jpg","title":"Global Divide On Homosexuality ","slideshow_id":"301474","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3460538","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/18\/brazil-protests_n_3460538.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303697\/slide_303697_2583296_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303697\/slide_303697_2583296_small.jpg","title":"Rio de Janeiro Protests","slideshow_id":"303697","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3449738","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/16\/pope-blesses-harley-davidson-bikers_n_3449738.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303320\/slide_303320_2574977_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303320\/slide_303320_2574977_small.jpg","title":"Pope Blesses Harley Davidson Riders ","slideshow_id":"303320","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3452946","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/madeleine-mccann-news-home-office-fund-scotland-yard-investigation-_n_3452946.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/222510\/slide_222510_1548385_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/222510\/slide_222510_1548385_small.jpg","title":"Madeleine McCann","slideshow_id":"222510","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3452691","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/17\/dalai-lama-female-compassion-sensitivity_n_3452691.html","content_type":"quote","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/236354\/slide_236354_1174183_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/236354\/slide_236354_1174183_small.jpg","title":"77 Wise Sayings By The Dalai Lama On His 77th Birthday","slideshow_id":"236354","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3441561","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/14\/pope-francis-meets-justin-welby_n_3441561.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303088\/slide_303088_2571153_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303088\/slide_303088_2571153_small.jpg","title":"Pope Francis meets the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby","slideshow_id":"303088","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3457628","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/18\/met-office-weird-weather-climate-_n_3457628.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/269563\/slide_269563_1877606_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/269563\/slide_269563_1877606_small.jpg","title":"Weird Weather 2012","slideshow_id":"269563","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3446072","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/15\/queen-trooping-the-colour_n_3446072.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303265\/slide_303265_2573859_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303265\/slide_303265_2573859_small.jpg","title":"Trooping The Colour","slideshow_id":"303265","vertical":"uk"},{"entry_id":"3449671","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/06\/16\/taksim-square-_n_3449671.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303315\/slide_303315_2574922_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/303315\/slide_303315_2574922_small.jpg","title":"Taksim Square ","slideshow_id":"303315","vertical":"uk"}]
This weekend saw the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower, a yearly celestial event which lights up the night skies across the world.
Lyrids are pieces of debris from the periodic Comet C/1861 G1 Thatc...
This weekend saw the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower, a yearly celestial event which lights up the night skies across the world.
Lyrids are pieces of debris from the periodic Comet C/1861 G1 Thatc...
Loading comments… 
Huffington Post UK | By Sara C Nelson Posted: 24/04/2012 14:54 Updated: 24/04/2012 16:26