Shad.off / Depositphotos.com
FORT McMURRAY — The Perseid meteor shower is beginning to light up northern skies, with astronomers saying 2026 could offer one of the best displays in years as the annual event builds toward a moonless peak next week.
The shower is active now and will intensify through Aug. 12 and 13, when Earth passes through the densest part of a stream of dust and debris left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Under dark skies, observers could see between 50 and 100 meteors an hour, including the bright fireballs for which the Perseids are famous.
This year’s display coincides with a new moon, meaning there will be no moonlight to wash out fainter meteors, creating ideal viewing conditions. The best viewing is expected after midnight and before dawn, although meteors may begin appearing as early as 10 p.m.
Richard Covey, a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and an avid amateur astronomer, said northern Albertans are well positioned to enjoy the spectacle.
“This is shaping up to be one of the best Perseid displays we’ve had in years because the moon won’t interfere,” Covey said. “For people around Fort McMurray, I’d plan to be outside between about 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. The radiant climbs higher through the night, and that’s when you’ll see the greatest number of meteors.”
Covey said viewers do not need telescopes or binoculars.
“Your eyes are the best tool for watching a meteor shower,” he said. “Find a safe, dark location, give your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust, then simply lean back and take in as much of the sky as you can.”
He said Gregoire Lake Provincial Park is one of several good locations in the region because it offers darker skies than the city while remaining easily accessible.
The Perseids are created as tiny particles from Comet Swift-Tuttle strike Earth’s atmosphere at roughly 59 kilometres per second, burning up high overhead and producing the familiar streaks of light known as shooting stars. Many leave glowing trails that linger briefly in the night sky.
Comments