Night Light Show Tonight Courtesy Mother Nature

By 250 News

Image of the Perseid meteor shower from August of 2007

Prince George B.C.- Keep your eyes on the sky tonight and tomorrow night as the Perseid meteor shower is expected to put on a spectacular show this year...

The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the earth moving through debris from the Comet Swift Tuttle.  As it moves through the comet debris, there are flashes of light as the debris disintegrates when it hits earth’s atmosphere.

But even before the Perseids put on their show,  there will be an “opening act” as Mars, Saturn, Venus and a crescent moon will be visible to the naked eye just after sundown.

The President of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Prince George Centre, Maurice Sluka, says in the last couple of years, a partially full moon has thwarted the full effect of the shower by "outshining" the meteors.  Sluka says the continued high pressure system should mean clear skies tonight, and the moon will set beforehand, making for a nice dark canvas.

Sluka says there are several peak times forecast:  between 9 and 10pm, around midnight, and then, again, at 2am.  During those peak periods, he says, there can be up to 90 meteors per hour.

The president of the local astronomical society is hoping for a good turnout at the Observatory on Tedford Road this evening.  In past years, as many as 100 people have come out to view the shower. (For more information,click here, for the Society's website, which has a map to the Observatory, near West Lake)

Sluka advises bringing a comfortable, reclining lawn chair to avoid neck strain...and then, just sit back, and enjoy the show.  He says the meteors should be visible from all directions.

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