Perseid Meteor Shower - Every year in August, the Earth passes through rock and dust fragments left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle. As these small particles collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, they burn-up, often creating a startling streak of light across the sky. These can easily be observed and can be a wondrous spectacle. According to the NASA press release, the meteor was about six times brighter than the planet Venus and would be classified as a fireball by meteor scientists.