Shooting star season is here!
It’s that magical time of year again: the Perseid meteor shower is already underway. Though the peak of the celestial show will likely occur around the 10 to 14 of July, stargazers young and old will be able to feast their eyes on silver showers of stars at any time until the end of August- and maybe even make a few wishes.
This is the busiest time of year for those working over at the Mont-mégantic Astrolab, though Sébastien Giguère, the scientific coordinator and educator at the lab, says that shooting stars are visible year-round.
“All year you can see shooting stars at night at a rate of around three to five stars per hour. From the end of July throughout August though, the rate goes up exponentially,” he said. “On the night of the ‘maximum’, as well call it, the rate goes up to 100 stars an hour or more. The peak tends to occur around August 12, depending on the year.”
Giguère added that most people tend to forget that the days just before and right after the night of the maximum are just as spectacular, not to mention less crowded. The Astrolab, which offers incredible views of the showers both at the top of Mont-mégantic and at the base, starts taking reservations for viewings weeks before the peak night, and typically fills up very quickly.
“There are actually dozens of meteor showers that occur every year, it’s just that the Perseid shower is the most popular because it’s the most convenient, given that it falls right in the middle of vacation time, when the weather is great. Not that that takes away from the magic of the season!” Giguère said with a laugh.
He explained to The Record exactly why meteor showers occur, as well as how the Perseids got their name.
“What we see is actually comet dust. The Swift-tuttle Comet, named after the people who discovered it, is orbiting in space. Every time it passes near the sun, a little bit of it gets destroyed. The debris forms a type of river of comet dust that follows the trajectory of the comet. Around this time of year, the orbits of the comet and of Earth happen to coincide, giving us meteor showers.”
“We call this one the Perseids because all of the stars seem to be coming from the Perseus constellation. It has to do with laws of motion,” he continued. “It’s complicated to explain but it’s the same principle as when you drive in a snowstorm: it’s like all the snowflakes are coming at you, even if they’re falling from the sky. With the shooting stars, it’s pretty amazing because at the end of the night the Perseus constellation is right above us.”
According to Giguère, night owls are the ones who get the most out of the celestial show.
“The later you stay out, the more you see. The frequency just keeps increasing throughout the night,” he said. “This year is going to be extra beautiful because the maximum night happens on a night where there’s no moon, so the stars will seem even brighter than usual!”
Though Mont-mégantic is a popular location due to its status as a dark-sky reserve, telescopes and guided viewings, Giguère says that anyone can watch the meteor shower.
“You don’t need a telescope; the shooting stars are easy to see with the naked eye. The important thing is to get away from light pollution, and ideally go somewhere with a good horizon line,” he suggested. “Sutton is good for that, up in the mountains. Near Lennoxville, I’d say to go to Johnville. The further east you head the darker it gets, typically. Even just a dark field somewhere will be plenty good enough to set up some camping chairs and watch the stars.”
Giguère proposed that those itching to see some stars should consult www.lightpollutionmap.info. The website features a world map overlaid with a scale indicating where there is more or less light pollution. He also recommended checking in with local amateur astronomer clubs, such as the F.A.A.Q (Fédération des astronomes amateurs du Québec) or the R.A.S.C (Royal astronomical society of Canada), since they often organise public viewing events.
In fact, the Club des Astronomes Amateurs de Sherbrooke are organizing, on August 11, a star-gazing activity out in Granby. Starting at 8 p.m. at the Centre d’interprétation de la nature du lac Boivin (CINLB)), the club has organized a conference giving an in-depth explanation of the hows and whys of a meteor shower, as well as a guided viewing experience of the shooting stars using the club’s telescopes. The event will happen rain or shine, so come prepared!
The CINLB activity costs $10 for adults and $8 for children ages 6 to 17. Reservations are required and can be made at the www.cinlb.org or at the 450 3753861.
To participate in the Mont-mégantic viewings, ongoing from August 10 to 14, visit astrolab-parc-national-mont-megantic.org or call the (819) 888-2941 to make a reservation. Costs to access the summit are $34.25 for adults and free for children under the age of 17. The base is cheaper, coming in at $16.50 for adults, and again free for children under the age of 17.
Whether you chose to go with guided activities or decide to chase the stars solo, this year’s Perseid meteor shower is sure to be a spectacular show you won’t want to miss. Happy wishing!