A ‘spectacular’ meteor shower is set to light up Toronto skies this weekend, here’s how to spot it

The Geminid meteor shower is illuminating Toronto skies this weekend, and one astronomer is sharing some tips on how you can see this amazing phenomenon. 

The annual phenomenon is reaching its peak overnight from Dec. 13–14 in Ontario, bringing a real show of bright lights and long-lasting fireballs to the skies. 

Astrophysics PhD candidate at Western University Yung Kipreos tells Now Toronto that the meteor shower is one of the most spectacular astronomical phenomena taking place annually. Having chosen the Geminids as her topic of study, Kipreos recalls having seen them herself a few years ago, and says it’s an experience to remember. 

“It was so spectacular! Oh, my gosh. You can’t believe the amount of really, really long meteors we saw, like fireballs… The arc length they made in the sky, it was insane. And they all last for like a second, two seconds,” she said. 

WHY DO THE METEOR SHOWERS HAPPEN?

Meteorites are small dust fragments, which orbit the sun like planets. 

According to Kipreos, Geminid meteors are made of particles ejected from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which also orbits the sun. After being created, the meteors continue to follow a similar orbit to Phaethon, which intersects with the Earth’s orbit every year at this time, creating the spectacular show. 

This year, the expert says Geminids will be accompanied by a waning crescent moon phase, which is the final lunar phase before a new moon, when it has around 30 per cent of its illumination. The moon is also set to rise only around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, as the darker conditions make it even easier to view the event.  

The peak of the shower in Ontario will be around 2 a.m. according to Kipreos, but the phenomenon should still be visible throughout the entire night. 

WILL THE SHOWER BE VISIBLE IN TORONTO?

As a major city with considerable light pollution, Toronto might not always be privy to astronomical phenomena. However, Kipreos says the Geminid meteor shower is so bright that there is a good chance it will be visible across the GTA, including the centre of the city itself. 

“The Geminids are known for these really, really big fireballs, so they’re very unusually spectacularly bright meteors. They’re really beautiful. They last for a long time. They streak in the sky very, very long,” she said. 

“You can stay in the GTA, you can stay in the centre of Toronto. If it’s clear weather, if you can see the sky, then you’ll be able to see the fireballs.” 

Nevertheless, cloudy weather can make it more challenging to see the meteors, as the Environment Canada forecast predicts cloudy periods with a 40-per cent chance of flurries on Saturday night, followed by a mix of sun and cloud on Sunday. 

Those on the hunt for more optimal conditions can also travel across the GTA based on the weather forecast for other regions. 

TIPS TO SEE THE METEOR SHOWER

The Geminids should be visible to the naked eye, without the need for any extra equipment for those looking to see it. 

However, Kipreos says your eyes might need some time to adjust to the darkness before the meteors become more visible in the sky. For that reason, she advises Torontonians to dedicate about 30 minutes to an hour before they are actually able to see it. 

“A lot of people will go outside, they’ll look for 15 minutes, and then they say, ‘Oh, I didn’t see it,’ and you go back in. The thing with the meteor showers is that you really want to stay out, let your eyes settle with the darkness, maybe like 10 to 15 minutes. I personally would give it 30 minutes to an hour, and then you, for sure, are going to see something great.” 

The expert also says instead of looking directly at the radiant — a point where the meteors overlap, usually at the Gemini constellation — observers should aim for looking about 45 degrees away, where the longer and stronger meteors will be more visible. 

“It’s like you were driving with the snow in the windshield, and you see the snow going [past you], because you’re going straight through the snow. [This is the] same thing, Earth goes straight through the meteor shower through the radiant.” 

After a week of snowfall and below-freezing temperatures, Environment Canada’s forecast indicates temperatures will hit a low of -11 C on Saturday night, and Kipreos recommends Torontonians bundle up to observe the phenomenon. 

Otherwise, the expert says going out with friends to watch the meteor shower can also make it easier to stay awake for the peak. 

“If you happen to be staying up late with your friends, you can always, at the end of the night, go out and see the shower together, it’s very sweet.”