One of the best meteor showers of the year will peak this month and be viewable in Metro Vancouver.
The Perseid meteor shower is one of the year's most productive displays. Locals can expect to see anywhere from 50 to 75 shooting stars per hour during the shower's peak, according to the American Meteorological Society.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) also considers the Perseids' meteors as swifter and brighter, leaving long "wakes of light and colour" as they streak overhead. The shower is also known for producing "fireballs," which are bigger explosions of light and colour persisting longer than typical meteor streaks.
The Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak on Monday, Aug. 12, so the mornings of Aug. 11 to 13 should also offer great opportunities to see numerous meteors. The moon will be in its first quarter at this time, so the best time to view the shower will be between midnight and dawn; the shower strengthens in the wee hours before dawn, according to Earthsky.
Timeanddate.com has a chart that shows when and where Vancouverites should look in the sky to see shooting stars during this time (see slide two).
The Perseid's meteors appear to fall from the constellation Perseus
The shower has been active since late July and some of its meteors will be visible until late August. However, they will gradually ease up heading to the start of September after the shower peaks.
According to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Perseid's meteors originate from the Comet 109P/Swift–Tuttle that leaves a trail and dust of gravel behind it as it orbits the sun. Earth crosses the comet's orbital path and trail of debris each summer, resulting in the annual meteor shower. The debris transforms into "shooting stars" as it disintegrates in Earth's atmosphere.
Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle makes a full orbit around the sun once every 133 years.
The CSA says the Perseids originate in the constellation Perseus because they appear to fall from it. Greek astronomer Ptolemy catalogued the constellation and named it after the Greek mythological hero Perseus (see slide three).
Perseus is at its highest vantage point in the sky right before dawn, which is the best time to see numerous shooting stars.
Watching the Perseid Meteor Shower in Vancouver
To fully enjoy the spectacle, here are a few tips for meteor hunting:
- If possible, head away from city lights, which make it hard to see fainter meteors. To increase your chances of seeing shooting stars, set out in search of dark skies in the countryside.
- If you need to use a flashlight, place a red filter over the bulb (a red balloon will do in a bind). White light is very blinding and may affect your night vision.
- Dress warmly. Even though the Perseids occur in the summertime, it is still a good idea to bring warm clothes. August nights can be very chilly.
- Sit back and relax on a reclining chair or lie down on a blanket. Not only is it much more comfortable to observe the stars lying down, but you'll also see more that way.
- Pack a thermos of hot chocolate or coffee—it will come in handy if you start to drift off or get a little chilly.
- Be patient. It might take a while before you see your first shooting star. Don't be quick to give up... It's worth the wait.
The Vancouver weather forecast includes sunshine and warm temperatures over the next few days and no rain is expected heading into next week. V.I.A.'s Downtown Centre Weatherhood station shows mainly sunshine with some cloudy periods on Friday and Saturday with highs of 26 C and 25 C, respectively, though some clouds and rain could be in the region by Tuesday.
Skywatchers can also stay up-to-date with hyperlocal forecasts across 50 neighbourhoods in the Lower Mainland with V.I.A.'s Weatherhood to plan their meteor-viewing experience.
