From July 17 to August 24, it’s the most magical cosmic event of the summer: the Perseid meteor shower… And you can see it from Montreal! But from where?
The Perseids
Every summer, the Earth crosses the orbit of the tail of comet Swift-Tuttle and, as a result, some of the meteors that form part of it enter the Earth’s atmosphere and burn up – and the spectacle of these “shooting stars” is quite exceptional. It’s said that for every shooting star, you can make a wish…
This “meteor shower” is most visible in mid-August, and this year in Montreal, the peak of visibility will be on the night of August 11-12.
If you look carefully,you’ll be able to distinguish the meteorites by their color (which reveals the composition of the rock when it burns).
- red: oxygen and nitrogen
- yellow-gold: iron
- mauve: calcium
- orange: sodium
- blue-turquoise: magnesium
Where to see them in Montreal
Bellevue Observatory
The Montreal center of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada/ Société Royale d’Astronomie du Canada (RASC ) organizes an annual event where Montrealers can lie on the grass (on a blanket, with twizzlers or soft ham sandwiches) and watch the shooting stars fall.
It’s at the Bellevue Observatory, in McGill University’s Morgan Arboretum. This is where the sky is at its darkest – best protected from the city lights of Montreal.
When? The night of August 12 to August 13
Where? Bellevue Observatory – Morgan Arboretum, 150 chemin des Pins, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue
How? One and a half hours from downtown, on the orange line and bus 419 (stop: Sainte-Marie/des Pins).
Belvedere Outremont
The belvedere is open from 6 a.m. to midnight every day, and you can go there (with your cooler) when the sun goes down (around 8:20 p.m.) and wait patiently for the moon to rise and the sky to turn dark.
The belvedere offers a perfect view of Mount Royal – a patch of sky not too affected by city lights – and of the constellation Perseus (where the Perseids fall).
When? The night of August 12 to August 13 (but also the few nights before and the few nights after, so be sure to check the weather forecast if you want to go when the sky is clear).
Where? 1J4, Chem. de Polytechnique, Montreal
How? about 50min from downtown, at the Édouard-Monpetit stop on the metro’s blue line
Botanical Garden & Planetarium
Every year, the Botanical Garden and the Planetarium of Espace pour la Vie organize an event to see the shooting stars, coming up this year.
When? The night of August 12 to August 13 (but also the few nights before and the few nights after, so be sure to check the weather forecast for clear skies).
Where? 4801 Avenue Pierre de Coubertin
How? About 45 minutes from downtown, at the Viau stop on the metro’s green line.
A visit to the Mont-Mégantic Observatory?
For stargazers or those with the week off, the best place to see the Perseids in Quebec is at the top of Mont-Mégantic – at the Observatory.
It’s the fourth largest observatory in the country, but it’s the best equipped (with a 1.6m telescope) and the most efficient in Canada.
To get there, you have to climb the mountain, and bring good shoes and sunscreen! Mont Mégantic is a national park governed by the Sepaq.
The Observatory is located at the heart of the Mont Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve, which ensures that light pollution cannot reach this corner of the sky, and that stargazing can take place in the best possible conditions.
The Observatory organizes special Perseid nights with shows, stargazing, night-time hikes…
When? August 11 to 14
Where? Mont-Mégantic, a three-hour drive from Montreal
How? info on the website
Don’t forget to bring warm clothes, turn off the lights, have a little patience and keep your eyes to the sky. And, of course, prepare a wish list!