If you’re an astronomy buff, you might want to consider sacrificing some sleep and staying up late on Thursday nights.
The Perseids began on July 14th and will continue until September 1st, but the meteor shower peaks on August 11th, until the morning of August 12th.
The shower occurs when the Earth moves through the thickest part of Comet Swift-Tuttle’s debris.
Gary Boyle, also known as the Backyard Astronomer based in Ottawa, Ont., said Monday that a full Sturgeon Moon will cast a significant glow across the sky, which could reduce the visibility of smaller meteors.
Still, he said conditions remain favorable for hosting a star backyard party.
“If you can get away from the city lights to get a beautiful horizon to the north, south, east and west, those can be very spectacular, in all four directions,” Boyle said in a telephone interview. “People will definitely see something that night and some images are memorable. You will never forget.”
Throughout the night, people could also see a couple of planets from Earth’s solar system, Boyle said.
“The planet Saturn, a bright object in the southeastern sky, rises around sunset,” he said.
“Two hours later, we’ll see an even brighter Jupiter, and two hours later, an even brighter Mars, all lined up in a beautiful row across the sky, so you’re looking at three beautiful planets in our own solar system.”
The meteor shower will be visible in the skies across Canada.