Get ready for 'meteor Christmas' with an added bonus: a partial solar eclipse
The annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak on August 12-13, offering favorable viewing conditions due to a new moon. Astronomers anticipate a high number of bright 'Earth-grazing' meteors throughout the event.
Why it matters
Public interest in astronomical events provides educational opportunities and promotes engagement with science and space observation.
This shower is often considered one of the best, if not the best, of the year because of the number and brightness of its meteors, along with the usually favourable viewing weather.
The peak viewing night is Aug. 12-13, which is great news for meteor chasers: It coincides with a new moon, meaning there will be no pesky moonlight to interfere with faint meteors.
"The really cool thing this year is, I expect the Perseid grazers to be in full force," said Peter Brown, Canada Research Chair in Meteor Astronomy and a professor at Western University in London, Ont.
These are Earth-grazers — meteors that enter Earth's atmosphere and then head back into space. They can be bright and fast, making them quite spectacular to see.
(Note: The author saw an extremely bright Earth-grazer on the night of Aug. 3 from downtown Toronto.)
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