News

Draconid meteor shower lights up the night sky

The clouds parted to give some onlookers a glimpse of the spectacular display.
The clouds parted to give some onlookers a glimpse of the spectacular display. The clouds parted to give some onlookers a glimpse of the spectacular display.

Stargazers in some parts of the UK were treated to a display of meteors on Sunday.

The weather threatened to put a dampener on the annual Draconid meteor shower, but the clouds parted for some, offering a glimpse of the spectacular display.

Draconid meteor shower
Draconid meteor shower The Draconid meteor shower over Howick rocks in Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA)

One particularly dazzling meteor shot through the sky over Howick rocks in Northumberland as a fisherman looked on.

Named after the constellation of Draco the dragon, the shower occurs every year and is one of two meteor showers to light up the skies in October.

SCIENCE Draconids
SCIENCE Draconids (PA Graphics)

The shower comes from the debris of comet 21 P/ Giacobini-Zinner and occurs in the Northern Hemisphere.

It can be seen without binoculars or a telescope.