The northern lights have illuminated skies over the Pacific Northwest in recent weeks, coinciding with the mid-August peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower, considered by astronomers to be the year’s strongest.

Under clear, dark skies, stargazers might see as many as 100 meteors in an hour, backed by curtains of light from the aurora borealis.

The Perseids return each July as Earth passes through debris left behind by a comet. The meteor shower was most visible around Aug. 12 but continues through Sept. 1.

The northern lights also appeared in May, when I saw them from a ferry dock in western Washington. I heard the forecast in the afternoon, but having packed a camera bag in the past only to see a flash or two of green, if that, I was doubtful.

By 11 p.m., when crowds gathered with folding chairs and camera lenses near the Mukilteo ferry dock, I had forgotten about the idea. I wondered if there was a festival going on.

“What are all these people doing here?” I asked at the ticket booth.

“Northern lights.”

The midnight sailing, usually quiet with a few commuters, was full of passengers on the decks. As the ferry slowed, a voice over the loudspeaker warned that the 12:30 a.m. return trip would be the last of the night.

The lights and the camera screens kept glowing.

If you have an image or story to share from this summer’s northern lights or other night sky events, especially from the North Coast, send it to editor@discoverourcoast.com for a chance to be featured in Coast Weekend. Be sure to include your name and city.