Perseids meteor shower expected to light up the sky
QMI Agency
First posted: Monday, August 11, 2014 12:17 PM EDT | Updated: Monday, August 11, 2014 12:36 PM EDT
Stargazers will get their best chances to view the Perseids meteor shower Tuesday and Wednesday night, the Canadian Space Agency says.
The best viewing time is after midnight until about two hours before dawn and people might be able to see 50-80 meteors an hour.
The agency recommends people heading out to watch the shower dress warmly and either lie down in a reclining chair or on a blanket.
"To increase your chances of seeing shooting stars, set out in search of dark skies in the countryside," a statement on the agency's Facebook page says.
Researchers at NASA said the almost-full moon will "wash out" fainter meteors, but "there should still be a good show of brighter meteors."
The Perseids have been observed for at least 2,000 years and are associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle. Each year, the Earth passes through a cloud of the comet's debris.
A meteor streaks past stars in the night sky over the village of Kuklici, near Kratovo on August 13, 2012. The Perseids meteor shower is observed every August when the Earth passes through a stream of space debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle. (REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski)
Perseids meteor shower expected to light up the sky | Canada | News | Toronto Su
QMI Agency
First posted: Monday, August 11, 2014 12:17 PM EDT | Updated: Monday, August 11, 2014 12:36 PM EDT
Stargazers will get their best chances to view the Perseids meteor shower Tuesday and Wednesday night, the Canadian Space Agency says.
The best viewing time is after midnight until about two hours before dawn and people might be able to see 50-80 meteors an hour.
The agency recommends people heading out to watch the shower dress warmly and either lie down in a reclining chair or on a blanket.
"To increase your chances of seeing shooting stars, set out in search of dark skies in the countryside," a statement on the agency's Facebook page says.
Researchers at NASA said the almost-full moon will "wash out" fainter meteors, but "there should still be a good show of brighter meteors."
The Perseids have been observed for at least 2,000 years and are associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle. Each year, the Earth passes through a cloud of the comet's debris.
A meteor streaks past stars in the night sky over the village of Kuklici, near Kratovo on August 13, 2012. The Perseids meteor shower is observed every August when the Earth passes through a stream of space debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle. (REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski)
Perseids meteor shower expected to light up the sky | Canada | News | Toronto Su