When the snows disappear on the slopes of the ski station, activity does not cease (for better or for worse) because August is when hundreds flock to see the shooting stars.

The Hoya de la Mora on Sierra Nevada is probably the best place in hundreds of kilometres to see the shower of shooting stars, or meteorite shower, known as the Perseids, and this is where we consult dear old Wikipedia:

“The Perseids are a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Swift–Tuttle that are usually visible from mid-July to late-August. The meteors are called the Perseids because they appear from the general direction of the constellation Perseus and in more modern times have a radiant bordering on Cassiopeia and Camelopardalis.“

So there you go! Mind you, night temperatures over 2,500 metres are pretty damned chilly in August, so most take warm clothing and a blanket.

Secretos de Granada is a cultural associations that organised a visit for its 30-odd members to the Hoya de la Mora to witness the spectacle, which provided some spectacular photos during the night – we have used one as the accompany photo.

According to the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), the days of maximum celestial activity are the nights from the 11th to the 13th of August, so if you’ve no plans for the next few days… now you have!

(News: Sierra Nevada, Granada, Andalucia – source/photo: Ideal)