A meteor shower will peak this week and promises quite the show

This Friday, there will be a spectacular lightshow, with bright streaks all across the sky.

But it’s nothing man-made. Rather, it will be the annual Perseid meteor shower, one of the best astronomical events of the year.

Though already underway, as Earth moves further into a cloud of debris left from Comet Swift-Tuttle - which last passed us in 1992 and should stop by again in 2126 - the number of meteors will quickly ramp up.

Among those looking forward to this surge in celestial activity is Colleen O’Hare, a local amateur astronomer.

“The Perseid meteor shower starts in about mid-July, goes to almost the end of August, but it will peak this Friday,” O’Hare told Kelowna10. “On a clear, moonless night, you can see up to 80 meteors an hour.”

This year’s shower will be hampered slightly by the presence of a full moon, effectively brightening the night sky, and making the dimmer or smaller lights harder to see.

But regardless, O’Hare said you’ll still be able to see the larger lights despite the less than stellar conditions.

“It’s one of the easiest astronomical observations to make,” she explained. “Just sit back, use your eyes, relax and enjoy the show.”

The Perseids are best seen between about 2 a.m. and dawn. However, anytime after dark one can head outside and look up for a chance to grab a glimpse of the show.

For the best viewing experience, head far from the light pollution of a city. The longer one looks at the dark sky, the more the eye will adapt to the lack of light and grow more sensitive to the faint glow from the meteors. This means staying off electronic devices and being patient.

The meteors will radiate from one central location in the northeast section of the sky, known as the constellation Perseus, from which they take their name.

O’Hare and many others will be gathering at the Okanagan observatory on Big White Road to enjoy the spectacular sight. You might even find her with a cup of hot cocoa in her hands to keep her warm throughout the night.