Skywatchers across several Canadian provinces caught glimpses of a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, according to the Canadian Space Agency. The celestial event was visible across the Maritimes, Ontario, Quebec, and other regions, though cloud cover obscured the sight for observers in various areas.
Partial Solar Eclipse Visible Across Parts of Canada
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow over the Earth. A partial eclipse happens when the sun and moon are not perfectly aligned, leaving only part of the sun hidden. Canada fell outside the path of totality during this event, which brought a total solar eclipse to parts of Europe and the Arctic.
Visibility and sun coverage varied by location: * St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador: 53 per cent coverage (peak at 3:35 p.m.) * Charlottetown and Halifax: Roughly 30 per cent coverage * Montreal, Quebec: More than 18 per cent coverage (peak at 1:45 p.m.) * Ottawa, Ontario: 15 per cent coverage * Toronto, Ontario: 8 per cent coverage (peak at 1:40 p.m.) * Winnipeg, Manitoba: 5 per cent coverage (peak at 12:02 p.m.)
Experts emphasize that it is never safe to look directly at the sun. The Canadian Space Agency recommends wearing special protective glasses to prevent eye damage, noting that regular sunglasses do not suffice. For those who missed the event, a partial lunar eclipse is scheduled to occur overnight between August 27 and August 28,
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Perseid Meteor Shower Reaches Its Annual Peak
Coinciding with the partial solar eclipse, the annual Perseid meteor shower reached its peak on Wednesday night. The Perseids are an annual event visible from the Northern Hemisphere from late July until mid-August.
The meteors originate from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which leaves a trail of dust and gravel in its wake every 133 years. Every summer, Earth moves through the comet’s orbital path, and the debris burns up in the atmosphere to create shooting stars. The name “Perseid” is derived from the Perseus constellation because the meteors appear to fall from it.
During the darkest hours of the night, astronomers and skywatchers anticipated seeing anywhere from 50 to 100 shooting stars per hour. Samantha Lawler, an astronomy professor at the University of Regina, noted that the event featured a very broad peak, alongside a new moon phase that meant minimal moonlight would outshine the meteors.
Viewing Tips for Optimal Stargazing
To get the best view of the Perseid meteor shower, organizations and experts recommend heading away from street lights and city lights to minimize light pollution. Observers are encouraged to set up a chair or lie down on a blanket to settle in for the night, as patience is required while eyes adjust to the darkness.
In Saskatchewan, Richard Huziak of the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party highlighted the dark sky preserve and observatory at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park as an ideal viewing location. Meanwhile, the Astrolab astronomy center at Mont-Mégantic provincial park in Quebec hosted day-and-night activities for visitors looking to take advantage of the clear dark-sky reserve conditions.
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