The dazzling natural firework display of “shooting stars” on show in Britain on Monday night was the result of material falling from the tail of Comet Swift-Tuttle.
The Perseids meteor shower is an annual event between mid-July and mid-August.
The best views this year so far were on Monday, with as many as 60 an hour visible to the naked eye.
The moon was in a waxing crescent, meaning its light did not significantly interfere with the view, the Royal Astronomical Society said.
A cloudless night across much of Britain also helped stargazers.
One of the most amazing sights was above Stonehenge while clear skies near Aberdeen provided an equally breathtaking spectacle.
Hundreds of people posted photos and comments about their experiences.
On Twitter @VickiMcMuffin wrote: “Lost count of the meteors & fireballs I’ve seen. It’s been one of the best showers in years,” while Alexandra Starr tweeted: “About 60 over Wisbech, lovely show tonight.”
Others had difficulty distinguishing between nature’s shooting stars and man-made ones. @NuttyTabatha tweeted: “Number of meteors: None. Number of planes mistaken for meteors: Three!!!!”
Meteors – or shooting stars – are the result of small particles entering the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, heating the air around them and causing a streak of light.
Astronomer and science writer Dr David Whitehouse told the BBC: “The light from a shooting star is like no other. It’s not starlight, it’s not moonlight, it’s not sunlight. It has a ghostly sliver and a sleeting brilliance all of its own.”