Perseid meteors over Teide Observatory, Tenerife, Spain

Make a wish. Perseid meteor shower over Tenerife, Spain

Not every summer tradition happens on the ground. Some unfold hundreds of miles overhead, one meteor at a time. The Perseids return each year from mid-July through late August, peaking around 12-13 August, when as many as 100 meteors an hour can streak across dark skies. Each meteor is a tiny fragment left behind by Comet Swift–Tuttle as Earth passes through its dust trail, appearing to radiate from the constellation Perseus. In Spain, the display is affectionately known as Lágrimas de San Lorenzo ('Tears of Saint Lawrence').

Today's image captures the shower above Teide Observatory in Tenerife, part of a protected Starlight Reserve. Perched about 2,400 metres above sea level, the observatory benefits from clear air, minimal light pollution and skies often above the island's 'sea of clouds,' making it one of Europe's finest stargazing locations. Best of all, you don't need a telescope—just your eyes, a dark sky and a little patience to enjoy nature's annual light show.