Stargazers, get ready, as the annual Perseid meteor shower is just days away from reaching its peak, which you’ll be able to see from Canada!
Widely considered one of the best celestial events of the year, the Perseid meteor shower is caused by Earth moving through debris, made up of bits of ice and rock left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle.
Perseid meteoroids are typically tiny, around the size of a grain of sand and move around 133,200 mph. These fragments are super hot, over 1650 degrees Celsius.
Those meteors you see are the pieces of comet debris heating up as they enter the atmosphere, burning up into a bright burst of light as they shoot across the sky.
The Perseids are usually active from mid-July through August. This year, Space.com states they will reach their peak the evening of August 12 and just before dawn on August 13.
The peak occurs when Earth passes through the most dense and dusty areas, with rates between 150-200 meteors an hour.
This August 2024 is expected to be particularly good for seeing the meteors, as although the moon will be 50% illuminated during their peak, it will set around midnight resulting in dark skies until dawn.
For those who want the best views of the meteor shower, your best bet is to travel outside of the city far away from light pollution. Ontario’s dark sky preserves are a great option if you’re willing to drive a little longer, such as Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve, Bruce Peninsula and Point Pelee national parks, or Fathom Five National Marine Park.
Binoculars are not needed, as it is hard to determine where the meteors will come from. Experts also recommend letting your eyes adjust to the dark for at least 15 – 20 minutes so you can see the show in all its glory.