Shooting star captured over the Peak District

This stunning image of a shooting star over Middleton Top near Wirksworth was captured in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday) by Rod Kirkpatrick of F Stop Press.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a shooting star streaks across the Milky Way high above Middleton Top, the last surviving winding engine from the long-closed Cromford and High Peak Railway, near Wirksworth.  Photo -  F Stop Press Ltd.In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a shooting star streaks across the Milky Way high above Middleton Top, the last surviving winding engine from the long-closed Cromford and High Peak Railway, near Wirksworth.  Photo -  F Stop Press Ltd.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a shooting star streaks across the Milky Way high above Middleton Top, the last surviving winding engine from the long-closed Cromford and High Peak Railway, near Wirksworth. Photo - F Stop Press Ltd.

And if stargazing is something you enjoy, there’s still plenty of chances to catch a glimpse of the International Space Station as it glides across Derbyshire’s night skies on the following days and times...

Tuesday, August 11: approaches from W at 9.45pm

Wednesday, August 12: approaches from W at 10.28pm

Thursday, August 13: approaches from W at 9.35pm

Friday, August 14: approaches from W at 10.19pm

Saturday, August 15: approaches from W at 9.25pm

Sunday, August 16: approaches from WSW at 10.09pm

Monday, August 17: approaches from W at 9.16pm

The ISS is the largest space station ever built and it can be spotted with the naked eye at certain times as it orbits Earth at 17,500mph at an altitude of roughly 200 miles.

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Spotting the station is very easy and you don’t need any special equipment – you just need your eyes!

Plus, this week there’s also a chance to see the Perseid meteor shower, which occurs when debris from the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet, which last passed near Earth in 1992 and is not due to return until 2125, collides with the atmosphere.

The annual spectacle is now underway and will peak on Wednesday night and into the early hours of Thursday when there are expected to be up to 100 shooting stars per hour.

That will be a moonless night so the sky will be extra dark. If cloud stays away, Perseid viewing conditions will be perfect.

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And don’t forget to send us your photos if you manage to capture the ISS or the meteor shower on camera. Email them to [email protected] with your name, address, contact number and a few details about the photo.