Arguably the biggest space event of the year is expected to dazzle in the sky above us soon, and you could get a great view in Vancouver.
Thankfully, what should help is that the forecast is mostly clear, though with a few clouds.
Weather alone isn’t all that needs to be considered, so here’s how and where you can catch the Perseid meteor shower in Vancouver.
The meteor shower is active for over a month between July and mid-August, but this weekend is the peak.
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In and around Vancouver, as with any stargazing-type experience, you’ll want to stray away from areas with light pollution.
We connected with the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre for tips and potential viewing spots.
Some notable locations include Beaver Lake in Stanley Park. If you’re in the Fraser Valley or don’t mind a trip in that direction, Aldergrove Regional Park and MacDonald Park in Abbotsford would also be ideal viewing spots.
Best time to watch
The best time to view the shower will be during the late hours of Sunday, August 11, and early hours of Monday, August 12. Thankfully, this year’s shower doesn’t coincide with a full moon, meaning a darker sky.
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Unfortunately, the forecast does call for some cloud cover, but that might change by the time of the big show!
While the meteors will be visible after dark, between midnight and 2 am will offer the best view, as will just before dusk.
The space centre suggests that parks are the darkest places in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. It also suggests lying on your back and looking up toward the Big Dipper.
DarkSky is an excellent resource for locating a suitable dark sky location around you.
The final piece of advice from the space centre is when you look up, be patient!
This piece was first published in 2022 and has since been updated.