If there was ever a time to wish upon a shooting star, now is your chance as skies over Canada will soon be full of dazzling meteor showers.
As reported by EarthSky, the 2023 Leonid meteor shower will be free of moonlight, with a dark sky allowing for peak viewing this weekend on November 17 and 18.
For Torontonians, the optimal stargazing time to catch the shower will occur at 12:33 am ET on November 18, though EarthSky writes the phenomenon will last from late on the evening of November 17 through the morning of November 18.
With ideal conditions, you might get to see between 10 to 15 Leonid meteors per hour.
While it’s more difficult to see the showers within the city due to light pollution, you don’t need to go too far for an unobstructed view. As long as weather permits, the Leonids should be able to be spotted across most of the northern hemisphere.
One of the best locations near Toronto to stargaze is at Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve, a drive two hours north. This conservation area found on 1906 hectares of crown land has a complete absence of artificial light, allowing for prime conditions.