Meteor shower

Get Your Star Gazing Hats Ready; The Perseid Meteor Shower is Back!

Astronomy geeks and casual stargazers alike, prepare to be amazed! The Perseid meteor shower is reaching peak performance and we're here to guide your eyes toward the night sky.

The strongest meteor shower of the year, the Perseid meteor shower, is about to peak, and it's time for everyone in Canada to get ready for a night of celestial magic! From mid-July until September 1, these bright, shooting stars dazzle our night sky as the Earth orbits through the debris left behind by the famous Swift-Tuttle comet. This year, experts predict that the peak viewing times will fall between Sunday night and the early hours of Monday morning, giving stargazers a spectacular show to witness!

Scott Young, a Planetarium Astronomer at the Manitoba Museum, shares that what we often call shooting stars are actually tiny pieces of dust burning up as they enter our atmosphere. As luck would have it, these little rock stars can shoot across the sky at speeds of up to 37 miles per second! Now that's one way to remember those old comedic stories about meteors racing for glory. So gather your friends, grab your favorite snacks, and find a dark spot away from city lights. You won’t want to miss this event!

But wait! Don’t forget to check the weather forecast before you spend your evening outdoors. Clear skies are necessary to catch the perfect glimpse of the elusive meteors. In British Columbia, locals are gearing up to stay up late for what promises to be one dazzling celestial event. Best viewing conditions will be at the peak of the shower when the sky is filled with bright streaks, so get your camera ready! Break out your cozy blankets and maybe even a thermos of hot chocolate to share with your fellow stargazers.

And here’s a pro tip: bring along a pair of binoculars, although traditional viewing can also be jaw-droppingly beautiful with the naked eye. NASA has shared useful tips on how to get the most out of this experience, suggesting dark areas far from the glow of city lights for optimum viewing. Additionally, did you know that meteor showers are essentially nature's way of reminding us that we are just small pieces in a vast universe? So, while you’re counting shooting stars, don’t forget to reflect on just how far away those tiny glimmers of light really are!

Fun Fact: The Perseid meteor shower was named after the constellation Perseus, from which it appears to radiate, and it has been recorded for over 2,000 years! Ancient civilizations used to believe that these meteors were messages from the gods. So, whether you believe in stardust or divine messages, looking up at the sky tonight might just reveal something magical!