The much-anticipated Perseid meteor shower is once again blessing stargazers with its annual display, offering nightly chances to spot “shooting stars”.
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.
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. 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.
The Perseids are usually active every year from mid-July through August. This year, they will reach their peak between August 9 – 14, with as many as 90 meteors visible per hour.
But for skywatchers this summer, there’s some disappointing news: according to Space.com, the peak of the Perseids will be washed out by a bright, nearly full moon.
According to astronomers, the moon will be about 84% illuminated on peak night, and it will rise right around nightfall, making it much harder to catch the fainter meteors even if you escape the city’s light pollution.
Luckily, between July 29 and August 16, four minor meteor showers Delta Aquarids, Alpha Capricornids, Eta Eridanids, and Kappa Cygnids will reach their peak visibility. Unlike the Perseids, most of these will unfold under dark, moon-free skies, ideal for meteor watching.
Despite moonlight washing out the Perseids this year, these lesser-known displays will still offer plenty of action to see this season. 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.
