One of the year's best meteor showers will start raining shooting stars over the Lower Mainland this weekend.
The Perseid Meteor Shower offers several ideal viewing opportunities during clear summer nights, which makes it a favourite of sky-watchers. It is also one of the easiest meteor showers to view from the Northern Hemisphere.
Metro Vancouver residents can expect to see shooting stars as early as July 14, although the shower isn't as productive at the beginning. It will stay active through the summer to Sept. 1, offering numerous opportunities to view the display.
Aside from its peak, more meteors are visible during the shower in Vancouver from July 17 through Aug. 23, according to timeanddate.com. Locals just need to look for clear nights in the Metro Vancouver weather forecast.
When can I catch the peak of the Perseid meteor shower?
The shower is expected to peak on Aug. 12, so the mornings of Aug. 11 to 13 should offer the best chance 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.
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.
Timeanddate.com has a chart that shows when and where Vancouverites should look in the sky to see shooting stars between Aug. 11 and 12 (see slide two).
Marley Leacock, an astronomer at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, told V.I.A. in a previous interview that locals won't need any special equipment to view the celestial display but will need a clear view of the sky.
"The larger the better," Leacock noted, adding that it is "always good to get outside of the city and give yourself a few hours of viewing time."
The Perseids appear to fall from the constellation Perseus. This constellation is at its highest point in the sky right before dawn, which is why this time is ideal for viewing the shower.
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.
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.
