This bright meteor streak
appeared and disappeared quickly during a long exposure of the
Great Lacerta Nebula,
seen faintly in red toward the center of the image.

The meteoroid, likely a small pebble,
creates its glow partly by heating and exciting surrounding air in
Earth's atmosphere,
but itself vaporizes and leaves wind-blown gas and dust with
colors that give clues to its composition.

The featured image was captured last month from
Death Valley Observatories in
Nevada,
USA.

This month, though, is particularly good for
seeing meteors.

Presently there are
three
meteor
showers ongoing,
although they are currently
competing for visibility with the glow of a bright
gibbous Moon.

The most active of these showers, the
Perseids, will be busiest in about 10 days --
after the Moon has dimmed considerably.

This year, the
Perseids peak nearly coincides with not only a
new Moon, but, from some locations, one that
totally eclipses the
Sun.