Torontonians may have the opportunity to witness a meteor shower on Wednesday, provided the weather cooperates. Expected to peak over Ontario on Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, the Perseid meteor shower promises a celestial spectacle featuring vibrant fireballs and long streaks of light. Renowned as one of the year’s top meteor showers, NASA anticipates a display of 50 to 100 meteors per hour during this annual event.
Earlier on Wednesday, a partial solar eclipse was forecasted to be visible in Toronto from 12:56 p.m. to 2:24 p.m. However, the rainy weather predicted for the day in Toronto might have hindered the visibility of the eclipse and could also impact the meteor shower, as per Environment Canada’s forecast of possible showers and thunderstorm risk in the evening.
While a total solar eclipse was observed further east over Greenland and Iceland, with the sun completely obscured for a brief period, the national weather agency mentioned the potential development of fog patches closer to midnight, expected to dissipate by Thursday morning.
For those who missed the meteor shower on Wednesday, there is still a chance to catch it on Thursday night, advised Peter Brown, a Canada Research Chair in Meteor Astronomy and a professor at Western University. The Perseid meteor shower, which commenced on July 17, is projected to conclude on August 24, according to NASA.
To enhance viewing opportunities, experts suggest finding a dark location for watching the Perseids, with the best viewing time between midnight and dawn. Brown recommends stepping away from city lights for a higher chance of spotting multiple meteors per minute. Even within the city, a dark park could offer a glimpse of several meteors per hour, provided favorable weather conditions.
Furthermore, the new moon on Wednesday is expected to enhance the viewing experience this year, creating a darker sky for observing the meteor shower. Staying off phones to allow eyes to adjust to the darkness is also recommended for keen meteor watchers. The Perseid meteors, originating from the 109P/Swift-Tuttle comet that orbits the sun every 133 years, are anticipated to appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, despite having no actual connection to their source. The next predicted visit of the comet near Earth is not until 2125, as indicated by NASA.
