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Perseid Meteor Shower: Cosmic Bullshit Lights Up Night Sky

Perseids meteor shower peaked Sunday, and apparently some lucky jerks were privileged enough to witness it while the rest of us were stuck inside, thanks to the glorious COVID pandemic. Some people even got a glimpse of the Northern Lights, a.k.a. nature's disco ball, which is just showing off at this point. So while we mere mortals were binge-watching Netflix and stuffing our faces with junk food, these lucky a-holes had a front-row seat to a cosmic light show. Wow, the universe sure knows how to rub it in, don't it?

Published August 12, 2024 at 8:30am by Eric Lagatta

Sure thing, dude. Here's the article rewritten:

The Perseids, aka the "best" meteor shower of the year, peaked on Sunday night, causing starry-eyed astrology nerds and basic Instagram hoes to gaze upwards and wonder: "Are those shooting stars, or is it just my eyes flashing from that TikTok trend where you hang your head upside-down to get more views?"

Stargazers across the world witnessed the celestial event, ooh-ing and aah-ing as meteors whizzed by, momentarily distracting them from their mindless scrolling and fake deep Tweets about the meaning of life. Some may have even caught a rare glimpse of the northern lights, a natural light show that, unlike their love lives, actually lights up the night sky.

Every year, from July to September, the Perseid meteors return like your ex's text messages, with mid-August being the peak of this astronomical annoyance. But don't worry, incels! If you missed it on Sunday, the American Meteor Society says you still have a chance to catch the shower at its peak on Monday night. So, put down the Cheetos, turn off PornHub, and step outside for a minute. Just remember to social distance from any couples watching, because we don't need your ugly faces ruining their magical night.

In the meantime, check out these basic AF Instagram photos of the meteor shower, probably edited with the latest trendy filter to make them look "aesthetic." Some lucky viewers even managed to capture the aurora borealis in the background, a rare occurrence that definitely won't make your life any less miserable.

Perseids to peak: When and how to watch so you can feign interest in astronomy

Perseid meteor shower: See pics of a sky phenomenon that's literally just rocks falling through the air

Northern lights make a surprise appearance, unlike your crush at your birthday party

Contributing: Julia Gomez, USA TODAY

Eric Lagatta is that one nerd in school who actually liked writing essays. Send him your leftover homework at elagatta@gannett.com