The annual Perseids meteor shower provides one of the most consistent shows off the year. (Julie Boyer)

By Alex Rawnsley

METEOR SHOWER

Annual Perseids meteor shower due across mid-Island night sky

Aug 9, 2024 | 5:12 PM

NANAIMO — One of the most consistently impressive shows in the night sky is approaching its annual peak.

The Perseids meteor shower will hit peak overnight on Monday, Aug. 12 into Tuesday, Aug.13, however conditions over the weekend should provide excellent viewing potential from the Nanaimo and Oceanside regions.

Dr. Gregory Arkos, an astronomy professor with Vancouver Island University, told NanaimoNewsNOW the show usually produces anywhere between one or two flashes per minute as tiny pea-sized bits of ice and debris collide with Earth.

“We run into this debris field at high speed, our atmosphere, of course, has a lot of friction with these particles…they become red hot, and in some cases, larger pieces will actually look like little fireballs, but they’re really tiny fragments in just a high speed releases a lot of energy when they get our atmosphere.”

The material stems from the tail of a comet, Swift Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 133 years.

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Prime viewing conditions include getting away from the city lights and having an unobstructed view of as much of the night sky as possible.

Between around 11:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. are considered the best viewing hours.

“As long as it’s reasonably dark and just lay back, get a nice lawn chair, be comfortable,” Arkos said. “You don’t need a telescope, you don’t need binoculars, those are actually more of an impediment than a help. In this case, you want to be able to see as much sky as you can.”

The meteors are not concentrated in any one area of the sky, however Arkos said they typically come from the northeastern sky.

While out hunting meteors, Arkos also suggested stargazers look to spot Saturn in the southern sky, which will appear as a slightly brighter, steady yellowy-white star.

In the pre-dawn hours, both Jupiter and Mars will also appear bright in the eastern sky, around 20 degrees above the horizon.

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