Should Alberta skies cooperate, Wednesday will mark both the peak of an ongoing meteor shower and the chance to view a partial solar eclipse. Hopeful Edmonton stargazers can join the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) at Coronation Park between 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. for a safe viewing of the partial solar eclipse. RASC public education director Geoff Robertson says only 14 per cent of the sun will be blocked by the moon from Edmonton, likely around 10:38 a.m. Alberta will likely not see a total solar eclipse – when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow onto the planet and blocking the sun’s light from some areas of the world – because of the moon’s projected path. “It’s not going to be a really spectacular partial eclipse … But you know, we’ll take what we can get,” he told CTV News Edmonton. Anyone looking to watch the moon’s path Wednesday morning should still wear a pair of eclipse glasses, which will be available through RASC observatory in the park. He also says spectators should be prepared for cloudy skies, but the observatory will stay open for a few hours with solar telescopes just in case. Meanwhile, the Perseid meteor shower will likely dazzle night skies at its peak tomorrow night into Thursday morning. It’s typically visible to the naked eye, if clouds don’t get in the way. “We are passing through the debris left behind by a comet called Swift-Tuttle, which has a 133-year orbit,” Robertson explained. The Perseid shower last passed through the inner solar system in 1992 and will be back again in 2126. Elk Island National Park typically sees high traffic during meteor showers from July to mid-August given its low light pollution and proximity to the city. It’s part of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve, making it a designated meteor shower and borealis viewing area. This year, the park remained partially closed on Tuesday after heavy storms flooded campgrounds and trails. Officials have said they were hard at work to reopen safely. As long as there are clear skies past midnight in Edmonton, Robertson says the show could be worthwhile. “The Perseids are a pretty reliable meteor shower. They produce about 60 to 100 meteors per hour. Of course, it’s not clockwork. You might see three in a minute, then nothing for five,” he said. Peak meteor-watching hours would be 5 a.m. on Thursday in the city, he added, meaning Edmontonians should dress warm, wear bug spray and bring a good chair or something to lay on. With files from CNN and CTV News Toronto’s Alex Arsenych
