This summer’s major astronomical events are concentrated in the month of August — a partial solar eclipse, the Perseid meteor shower, a predawn planetary conjunction, and a partial lunar eclipse at the end of the month!
The celestial favourite – the Perseid meteor shower – peaks overnight on August 12th and 13th, bringing up to 90–100 shooting stars per hour. Unlike a one-time celestial event, the Perseids return every year. So, what makes this year so special?
Meteors are caused by bits of dust, ice, and rock plunging into Earth’s atmosphere from space. They compress the air in their path, causing it to glow, white hot. At certain times of the year, we pass through concentrated streams of meteoroids, left behind by comets and asteroids, resulting in dozens to hundreds of meteors streaking through our night skies. These are known as meteor showers.
The Perseids are created by debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, a comet that periodically travels around the sun. What makes viewing conditions ideal this year is the event will happen during the new moon. The lack of moonlight means a clearer view of what’s happening in the night sky.
Due to the lack of light pollution in most parts of the 705, we could see dozens of meteors each hour under clear skies. There are some prime viewing spots like Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve near Bracebridge.
But seeing the Perseids on August 12th and August 13th requires a bit of dedication – and perhaps a nap earlier in the day! Astronomers say the best view will be between midnight and dawn when the night is darkest. Face toward the northeast part of the sky where the constellation Perseus rises, though meteors will streak across all parts of the sky. It will take some time for your eyes to adjust to the dark, so give yourself 20 to 30 to prepare. Don’t look at your phone or bright screens during that time.
The number of visible meteors will ramp down to about half the peak rate on the night of the 13th, and then slowly taper off on the nights following, until the shower ends.
