By paNOW

Perseid meteor shower set to peak this weekend

Aug 11, 2018 | 1:00 PM

One of the best annual astronomical events will light up the sky this weekend and celestial bodies have aligned to produce an excellent late-night show.

The summertime meteor shower, the Perseid, is set to peak Aug. 11, 12 and 13. Though already underway, as Earth moves further into a cloud of debris left from Comet Swift-Tuttle, which last passed us in 1992 and should stop by again in 2126, the number of meteors will quickly ramp up. 

But unlike in 2017, when a three-quarters full moon washed out some of the fainter fireballs, a new moon is on the calendar this year. The moonless-sky will make for the nearly ideal viewing conditions.

According to NASA and Space.com, Earth will pass through the thick of debris at around 9 p.m. EST Sunday, meaning that night and into the morning hours of Aug. 13, promise to produce the best show for North America. 

For the best viewing experience, one should head far from the light pollution of a city, lie down and watch the sky. The longer one looks at the dark sky, the more the eye will adapt to the lack of light and be more sensitive to catch the faint glow from the meteors. This means staying off electronic devices and being patient.

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The meteors will radiate from one central location in the northeast section of the sky, known as the constellation Perseus, from which they take their name. Meteors should appear at rates of 60 to 90 per hour.

The weather appears it may cooperate somewhat for those in and around Prince Albert. Though smoke is forecast to linger into Saturday night, the sky could remain moderately clear into the early morning hours and temperatures shouldn’t drop below 16C. Sunday, however, clouds are expected to roll in and bring some showers that should carry into Monday. But not to fret; should you miss the bulk of the meteors this weekend, though the number per hour will drop off, some stragglers should hang around until Aug. 24.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr