<p><strong>A Perseid meteor zips over <a href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/iran-guide/">Iran</a>'s Alamut Castle in an August 12 picture submitted to the astronomy-education project <a href="http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/index.asp">The World at Night</a>.</strong></p><p>The Perseids, which occur annually when Earth and the moon pass through a cloud of rocky particles shed by<a href="http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-system/asteroids-comets-article/"> comet</a> Swift-Tuttle, often provide an impressive show for sky-watchers—including photographer Oshin D. Zakarian.</p><p>"Just came back from Perseid-meteor shooting," he wrote with his submission, "and this time I was lucky!"</p><p>(Also see <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/08/pictures/120810-perseid-meteor-shower-perseids-science-space-aurora/">"Perseid Pictures: Meteors With Aurora, Seen From Space, More."</a>)</p>
Lucky Shot
A Perseid meteor zips over Iran's Alamut Castle in an August 12 picture submitted to the astronomy-education project The World at Night.
The Perseids, which occur annually when Earth and the moon pass through a cloud of rocky particles shed by comet Swift-Tuttle, often provide an impressive show for sky-watchers—including photographer Oshin D. Zakarian.
"Just came back from Perseid-meteor shooting," he wrote with his submission, "and this time I was lucky!"
(Also see "Perseid Pictures: Meteors With Aurora, Seen From Space, More.")
Space Pictures This Week: Loner Galaxy, Mars Closeup, More
Meteors dazzle, the Mars rover gets busy, and a NASA test vehicle burns in the week's best space pictures.
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