LONDON -- While most of us were tucked up in our beds, the serious sky watchers were out in the great outdoors, many with cameras in tow to capture some of the best of what the Perseid meteor shower had to offer.
The show, which happened between late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, was particularly spectacular with the moon close to its new phase, which meant that light reflected by it didn't block out faint meteors from being seen.
Photographers across Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland managed to snap some stunning captures. Here are some of the best of them.
Wales
England
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Northern Ireland
Highlight of #Perseids last night this fireball which exploded with a flash, proper photos up 2nite pic.twitter.com/vUVQ7JmCBo— Paul Martin (@Tyrone_skies) August 13, 2015
Perseid #meteorshower at Spelga Dam, Mournes. Pic by @paulmoane @StormHour @DownRec @DiscoverNI @ArmaghPlanet @ pic.twitter.com/5k1nXIlXek— Paul Moane (@paulmoane) August 13, 2015
A #Perseid meteor passing over Haroldstown Dolmen in County Carlow last night. Photo by @fergalgleeson pic.twitter.com/H1KBn3O4Vb— Barra Best (@barrabest) August 13, 2015
Ireland
The #Perseid Meteor shower over Galway last night. Photo by Gavin Kelly Photography. pic.twitter.com/EYmxllByP1— Barra Best (@barrabest) August 13, 2015
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'There lies a sleeping giant, let him sleep' #milkyway #knockadoon #cork #youghal #ballymacoda #Meteorwatch #Perseids pic.twitter.com/szF8uFCRMA— Rónán McLaughlin (@romclaughlin) August 11, 2015
@romclaughlin thanks for the inspiration. The moon phase, weather and chance to get out finally aligned (3 months on) pic.twitter.com/j4A4n79lvF— mynameiszane (@skipi) August 12, 2015