One of the best meteor showers of the year peaks this week, and Cochranites won’t have to travel far to try to catch the show.
The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks overnight Wednesday, Aug. 12 into the early morning hours of Thursday, Aug. 13.
This year could be an especially good one for stargazers. The peak coincides with a new moon, meaning there will be virtually no moonlight washing out the night sky. Under ideal dark-sky conditions, observers could potentially spot dozens of meteors per hour.
So, where should you go around Cochrane?
The Big Hill might be a nice spot to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower this week. CochraneNow/TimHall
The biggest thing is getting away from streetlights and Calgary’s glow. Rural areas west and northwest of town should offer some of the darkest skies, particularly along Highway 1A heading toward the foothills.
Another option is to head north of Cochrane along Highway 22 and find a safe, legal viewing location away from town lights.
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park offers beautiful wide-open views between Cochrane and Calgary, although visitors should check park access and hours before planning a late-night visit.
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Closer to home, higher and more open areas around Cochrane may still offer a decent view. The trick is finding somewhere with an unobstructed sky and as little artificial light as possible.
For anyone willing to make a longer night of it, heading farther west toward the foothills will generally improve your chances of finding truly dark skies.
Will the weather cooperate?
That’s currently the big question.
As of this morning, Wednesday’s Cochrane forecast is calling for cloudy and cool conditions with afternoon showers and thunderstorms possible.
The evening forecast isn’t especially encouraging either, with thunderstorms possible around 8 and 9 p.m. followed by considerable cloud cover later in the evening.
Temperatures are expected to fall to around 8 C overnight.
The good news is that meteor showers aren’t limited to one exact moment. The Perseids are active throughout August, and strong activity should continue around the peak, so a cloudy Wednesday doesn’t necessarily mean Cochranites are completely out of luck.
If the clouds do break, the best viewing comes later in the night and into the early morning hours. Around 3 a.m. Thursday is expected to be an especially good time to watch.
No telescope or binoculars are needed. Find a dark spot, give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust and take in as much of the sky as possible.
And if you’re heading outside Cochrane to escape the lights, make sure you’re parked somewhere legal and safe rather than pulling onto the shoulder of a rural highway.
Now all we need is for Alberta’s August weather to cooperate.
The best viewing is expected in the early morning hours, with one Canadian astronomy source pointing to roughly 3 a.m. local time as an especially good target.