Stargazers in the GTA could be in for a treat tonight as the Perseid meteor shower is set to once again grace the night sky.

An annual event, the Perseid shower occurs when the Earth moves through a trail of dust left behind by the comet Swift–Tuttle, which orbits the sun once every 133 (earth) years.

As the Earth moves through the dust field left by the comet, dust-sized pieces from its trail burn up in our atmosphere and are visible to the naked eye as bright streaks in the night sky.

This year, conditions are expected to be particularly favourable for viewing the spectacle.  

“The real key difference this year is that it’s also a new moon so for the entire night there will be no moon up, which means it will be super dark,” said Jesse Rogerson, a PhD candidate in astronomy at York University.

Speaking to cp24.com, Rogerson said the lack of moonlight means one less source of light pollution for viewing the night sky.

“Having the moon gone means it’s going to be as dark as it possibly can be, which means not only can you see the bright meteors burning up in our atmosphere, but you’re also going to see the dim ones,” Rogerson said. “The frequency of meteor burnup that you see is going to be much, much higher – it’s going to make it a wicked show.”

While conditions are expected to be ideal for viewing the shower this year, the best shot for taking in the show will be outside of the city.

“If you want a good show, you’ve got to get out of any major city,” Rogerson said. “You’ve got to be in a rural area where you’re free from any light pollution.”

He said getting just 20 to 30 minutes away from the bright city can make a big difference when trying to get a better look at the shower.

“If you can find a park or a field or something that is relatively out of the city, bring some friends with you, bring a blanket to stay warm, bring a GPS, that’ll give you a good view.”

However no special equipment is necessary.

“This is one of those astronomical things where the naked eye is really best. Binoculars and telescopes really just get in the way,” said Michael Williams, an observatory demonstrator at the University of Toronto’s Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. “You want to be able to see as much of the sky as possible because they can happen pretty much anywhere in the sky.”

While Perseid meteors have been visible since earth started moving through the cloud in mid-July, the show is expected to peak in the early hours Thursday.

“The best days are last night, tonight and tomorrow night,” Rogerson said. “The peak itself is 3 a.m. eastern time Thursday morning – that’s’ the literal centre of the cloud.”

However stargazers will need to be equipped with one thing: patience.

“It’s key to not just go out and look for 10 minutes. You’ve got to spend about 45 minutes to an hour really enjoying the show,” Rogerson said. “Just standing and looking is going to make your neck hurt. You really have to commit about an hour to it. Just bring a blanket and lie down on the ground and let your eyes adjust to the darkness.”

Places to watch the meteors:

Scarborough Bluffs

It’s still in the middle of the city, but a little bit removed. A better option within the city because there’s no light pollution over the lake.

King City

An example of a spot a good half an hour away from the city core where light pollution won’t be as pronounced.

Long Sault Conservation Area

A good option for hardcore enthusiasts, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Toronto Centre chapter will be holding a Dark Sky Party to view the Perseids starting at 8:30 p.m. An hour drive from the city core, the location offers a view of the nightsky that you won’t get within the city limits.

**Those who miss the showers will have a chance to take in another astronomical event next month. A total lunar eclipse is expected to take place in the evening on Sept. 27.

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