Brew some extra coffee, you’re going to need it.
The annual Perseid meteor shower is underway, meaning Canadians all over the country will have a great chance of catching a shooting star until August 24. Widely considered to be the best meteor shower of the year, the spectacle will really get going this Wednesday night when it reaches peak activity, according to NASA. But 2015 also promises better-than-normal viewing opportunities thanks to a new moon on Aug 14, which should leave the skies optimally dark.
Combine August’s #Perseid with Canada’s Northern Lights and you truly have the most beautiful show on earth! pic.twitter.com/D0i7DtaHtO
— Canada (@Canada) August 10, 2015
So how can you make sure to have the best seat in the house?
NASA reports that the best meteor watching hour is 4 a.m. ET or 1 a.m. PT on the morning of August 13, when as many as 100 flaming space rocks will be whizzing across the sky at 60 km per second. In order to catch them though, you’ll have to be somewhere dark away from bright, city lights.
At the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse during the Perseids, it's this weekend, should be a good one! #Perseid #meteorshower pic.twitter.com/edDCNn8GLw
— Lake Superior Photo (@LAKSuperiorFoto) August 11, 2015
Once you’ve found that perfect spot, lie on your back with your feet facing northeast (towards the constellation Perseus) and look up. It should take your eyes about 30 minutes to adapt to the dark before you’ll really be able to see anything, so be patient. The nightly shows last until dawn.
You can also leave the telescopes and binoculars at home, they’ll only narrow your field of vision.
Just in case you didn’t know, the Perseid meteor shower occurs as Earth passes through the debris trail left by a comet called Swift-Tuttle, causing those particles to burn up in our atmosphere.
Just remember to make a wish before it’s over!
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