The Year’s Brightest Meteor Shower To Dazzle BC Skies This Week

Some more good news - with the New Moon coming on August 11, the light pollution will be low.

During the Perseids' peak on the nights of August 11-12 and August 12-13, skywatchers should see about 60 to 70 meteors per hour, Space.com said.

Perseid meteors tend to be brighter than others so the shower is ideal for anyone wishing to see their first "shooting star".

"The Perseids appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, visible in the northern sky soon after sunset this time of year". Stargazers can expect to see 150-200 meteors an hour, complete with streaks and fireballs.

The comet has a 133-year orbit, last visiting our part of the solar system back in 1992 (hence the big meteor show back in the 90s). A sun lounger, or deckchair, will let you relax and look up without craning your neck.

Even if you aren't an avid astronomer, you'll still have a great view.

If you want to catch the Perseids in all their glory, a drive to the darkest place near your home should suffice. Just make sure you have a clear view of a large swathe of the sky and be patient.

While you'll get the best meteor rates in a rural area, far from light pollution, you still might be able to see some meteors from a city or suburb. But try one of the local parks.

The Perseids appear at about this time every year when Earth ventures through pieces of debris left behind by the ancient comet Swift-Tuttle.

During the maximum, or peak, Sunday night and early Monday morning, it could be possible to catch as many as 110 meteors in an hour, or almost two per minute on average.

Lucky observers may see the occasional meteor sailing across the sky for several seconds, leaving behind a trail of glowing smoke.

Earthsky's Bruce McClure said "it should be an awesome year to watch the Perseids!"