An unusual Perseid and an Interloper

I caught my first Perseid of the season in the early hours of Monday morning. I spent half-an-hour outside during whihc I saw six Perseids and caught this one right on the edge of the frame - Vega is top right with the Coathanger below centre left. What's unusual about this Perseid is that it flared twice!



Mars is very much back on the scene, being the interloper in this otherwise convention view of the Hyades (left) and Pleiades (right). Although Mars is not as close this year as 2003 or 2005, it will be much higher up thus better placed for imaging this winter, so keep an eye out!