This weekend, the Perseid Meteor Shower will be at its peak! This means it will be the best time to view the incredible sight in the night sky.
On August 11th and 13th, get your friends together and set up to view the spectacular show.
August’s full Sturgeon moon won’t be doing us any favours on the night of August 11th when it is scheduled to make an appearance, which means that the Perseids’ peak will be considerably washed out by the light of the moon.
The good news is that the predicted peak for the Perseids is on August 13th, with 50 to 75 shooting stars per hour expected!
To ensure you have the best view of the shower, go to a dark area away from city lights pre-dawn. Give your eyes 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness and then lean back and enjoy the show above.
See also: There will be a spectacular meteor shower over Vancouver Island next week
The best times to view this year’s Perseid meteor shower are between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday night.
Not sure where to go? We have put together a list of locations to help you plan where you will watch:
Cattle Point
Cattle Point is a designated “Dark Sky Preserve”, one of only two urban star parks in Canada, where the skies are still usable for astronomy.
Cattle Point offers a perfect spot to watch a meteor shower, is open 24 hours a day and offers lots of parking and space to enjoy the show.
Esquimalt Lagoon
Esquimalt Lagoon features miles of ocean beachfront, perfect to get settled in for a night of star-gazing. Please note, overnight parking is not permitted along the Colwood waterfront with the park closed to cars one hour after dusk until dawn.
Tower Point and Witty’s Lagoon
Tower Point is part of Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park and offers several scenic coastal views and a large open field. Be sure to plan ahead and check out when the park is closed to cars.
Mount Tolmie
Visitors can either drive or take a quick 30 minute walk up to the top of Mount Tolmie. Once you arrive at the peak you have a 360-degree view of Victoria! A perfect viewing location. Be sure to get there early!
Mount Doug
Mount Doug is the largest park in Saanich and offers an incredible 360-degree view of the area around Victoria at the top.
Although you can drive to the top of Mount Doug, be sure to plan ahead and check out when the park is closed to cars. This option may require you to hike to the top to view as the best time to view meteor showers are between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.
Thetis Lake
Upper and Lower Thetis lake both offer great spots to relax and enjoy the meteor shower. Watch from the beach or take the path along the water to some lookout points and get settled in.
Aylard Farm
Aylard Farm has it all, fields, ocean views and cliffsides. It is out of the way from the city lights and can provide a perfect spot to watch the stars. Pay attention to park information, as gates close overnight.
This weekend’s weather forecast shows nearly perfect, clear conditions for viewing the meteor shower!
