Ontario's skies are about to light up with stunning meteor showers and blazing fireballs
Ontario's night sky is getting ready to put on its biggest summer show, and you won't need a telescope to see it.
The Perseids meteor shower has officially returned, and it's widely considered the best meteor display of the year. Known for their fast, bright streaks and potential for glowing fireballs, the Perseids are one of the most exciting cosmic events to catch, especially if you can escape the city lights.
These meteor showers aren't just pretty to look at. They blaze through the sky at nearly 60 km per second, often leaving behind long trails of light and sometimes even bursts called fireballs, which are brighter, more dramatic versions of regular meteors caused by larger pieces of debris burning up in our atmosphere.
According to NASA, the Perseids are currently active and will continue to light up the sky until Saturday, August 23.
However, if you're hoping to see the biggest show, be sure to look up during the night of Tuesday, August 12, into the early morning of Wednesday, August 13, when the shower reaches its peak. Under ideal dark-sky conditions, you could spot up to 100 meteors per hour.
To get the best view, head out after 10 p.m., but things really ramp up closer to dawn. The darker your surroundings, the better, so try a provincial park, a lakeside dock, or a dark-sky preserve like Torrance Barrens or Bruce Peninsula National Park.
The Perseids originate from the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun once every 133 years. Each summer, Earth passes through the trail of debris that the comet left behind on its past orbits around the sun, setting the stage for this stunning celestial show.
Whether you're lying on a blanket in the backyard or road-tripping north, this is one summer tradition that's completely free and completely unforgettable.
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