In a stunning display of cosmic photobombing, a bright meteor streak has crashed the party in a long-exposure image of the Great Lacerta Nebula, visible faintly in red toward the center of the frame. The meteoroid - likely a small pebble, because why not - created its glow by heating and exciting surrounding air in Earth's atmosphere, but then, in a dramatic exit, vaporized and left behind wind-blown gas and dust with colors that clue us into its composition. The image was captured last month from Death Valley Observatories in Nevada, USA.

But wait, there's more sky drama on the horizon. This month is particularly good for meteor watching, with three meteor showers currently ongoing - though they're competing for visibility with the glow of a bright gibbous Moon, because the cosmos loves a good scheduling conflict. The most active of these showers, the Perseids, will be busiest in about 10 days, after the Moon has dimmed considerably. This year, the Perseids peak nearly coincides with not just a new Moon, but, from some locations, one that totally eclipses the Sun. Yes, you read that right: a total solar eclipse during the Perseid meteor shower. The universe is showing off.

So mark your calendars, find a dark sky, and prepare for a celestial show that might just outshine the photobombing meteor.