The peak of the Perseid meteor shower is about to begin, and it’ll be a spectacle unlike any other. This celestial show began in late July and has been deemed the “best of the year” by NASA. This week, the stars will align to make it the most spectacular phase yet.
The space agency says that the peak will begin on the night of Wednesday, August 11th. “With the crescent moon setting early, the skies will be dark for the peak viewing hours of midnight (local time) to dawn on [August 12th],” says NASA.
Because Canada is located in the Northern Hemisphere, we’re in luck! More than 40 Perseids an hour may be visible in more rural areas away from light pollution, and those living in cities might be able to spot a few every hour.
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It’s time! Are you ready to watch the Perseids? The light show will peak on the night of August 12 and 13. https://t.co/JMBKC9AFpE pic.twitter.com/X0tO5way3V
— Canadian Space Agency (@csa_asc) August 3, 2021
There are a few ways to make sure that you get the most out of your Perseids viewing experience. Find a comfy spot under the night sky and give yourself at least a half-hour to adjust to the darkness. Avoid bright light as much as you can, so that you can spot the Perseids shooting across the sky. NASA describes them as quick, small streaks of light that are generally hard to spot from our vantage point here on Earth.
No matter how many Perseids you see, it’s still fun to spend a summer night gazing up at our majestic sky knowing that fragments of the comet Swift-Tuttle are hurtling through space while we witness the action from the safety of our backyards.
