Volcán de Fuego and Perseid Meteors

September 26, 2017

  Perseid Meteor shower over erupting Volcano (4)

September 2017 Viewer's ChoicePhotographer: Sergio Montúfar
Summary Author: Sergio Montúfar

The photo above features Volcán de Fuego, in Guatemala, erupting with three conspicuous Perseid meteors streaking across the sky. It was taken on the night of August 13, 2017. I had to work quite hard to find a spot offering a view of both the night sky and the volcanoes that wasn't cloud-covered. This entailed a night on the go and even a 30-minute trek through a river valley. At right is Acatenango, like Fuego, an active stratovolcano. Note the lamps of the climbers on its upper flank. The two bright stars above the volcanoes are Deneb at left and Alpha Cephei at right.

Photo Details: A 22 image composite; ISO 5000; f/5.6; 10 second exposure for each image.