Natural Fireworks Tomorrow Night

Tomorrow night perhaps Vancouverites will be able to catch an anticipated meteor shower. My husband‘s always been fascinated by astronomy and me, well I just think the little I know about it all is still pretty neat.

Photo credit: jon rawlinson on Flickr

It’s surprising how many more stars you see in the sky once you leave the city. Last weekend during our midnight run to Osoyoos we caught dozens of shooting stars in the twilight above. I know it’s one thing to live in the city and still be able to appreciate nature while out in a park or down by the beach, but it’s also another to be able to look up into the sky and be reminded of everything else there is in this world (and outside of it).

…Chunks of burning debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet will start hitting our atmosphere with the majority of space junk to arrive Sunday night.

The best viewing is after midnight as the Earth’s rotation turns into the comet left-overs. You don’t need to wear special protective gear to view the space shower. Look to the north-east for the best view of the meteors rocketing into Earth’s atmosphere. The shower gets its name because the meteors appear to be coming out of the constellation Perseus. [News 1130]

John was recently able to discuss his old passion in depth when our friend Henry was in town, he being slightly more of a pro in that field. I hope we’ll be able to catch some of the natural fireworks tomorrow night… if the weather cooperates and if the lights of the city don’t drown out the show.

My favourite place on earth to stargaze has got to be over on the Sunshine Coast, on a beach near Robert’s Creek. I’ve seen a meteor shower there before and have had plenty warm summer nights listening to the waves crash on the shore while watching the night sky. You don’t have to go that far out of the city to be able to look up and appreciate it all.