Some lucky people caught a glimpse of a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday. According to the Canadian Space Agency, the celestial sight was visible in the Greater Toronto Area around 1:40 p.m., however thick cloud cover obscured the event for many. Even if the skies had been clear, NASA estimated people in the Toronto area would only see about 8 per cent coverage. Orbax, a science communicator in the Department of Physics at the University of Guelph said 15 per cent coverage of the sun was expected in Guelph. However, cloud coverage there also made it difficult to see. The best views of the partial eclipse were in Europe and the Arctic. Unfortunately, Canada fell outside the path of totality this time. “Parts of Europe are seeing the first total solar eclipse that they’ve had in mainland Europe since the 90s,” Orbax said. “Depending on where you are, you’re going to have different types of coverage. So, we had two years ago, April, we had almost 100 per cent. We had 96 per cent coverage here in Guelph, 100 per cent coverage in Hamilton. Now we flip flopped with mainland Europe.” A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow over the Earth. A partial eclipse happens when the Sun and the Moon are not perfectly aligned, so only part of the Sun is hidden by the Moon. It is never safe to look directly at the Sun. Instead, the Canadian Space Agency recommends wearing special glasses to prevent eye damage. Regular sunglasses will not suffice. The next total solar eclipse in Canada will be seen in the western provinces in 2044. According to Orbax, southern Ontario’s next total solar eclipse will be in 118 years. “So, mark your calendars from this location. If you’re in southwestern Ontario in 118 years from now, you’ll have another opportunity to get a total solar eclipse,” Orbax said. However, a partial lunar eclipse will happen overnight between Aug. 27 and Aug. 28. “So, even though we’re only getting a 15 per cent coverage here today, on the night of August 27th, into the morning of the 28th, we’ll be getting a 96 per cent coverage lunar eclipse, for which you don’t need protective glasses to actually take a look. And the great thing about a lunar eclipse is that our view of the moon is not totally obscured. What actually happens is the moon turns red,” Orbax said. Perseid Meteor Shower reaches its peak Eager skywatchers will have something else to look forward to: the Perseid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak on Wednesday night. The Perseids are an annual event that can be seen from the northern hemisphere from late July until mid-August. Starting Wednesday night, and continuing into Thursday morning, an increasing number of shooting starts will be visible streaking across the sky. The Canadian Space Agency said between 50 to 80 meteors per hour may be visible during the darkest hours of the night. The meteors come from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which leaves a trail of dust and gravel in its wake. Every summer, the Earth moves through the comet’s orbital path. “As those particles of space dust and comet debris strike our atmosphere, they burn up. And that’s what we see as the shooting stars that we know as a meteor shower,” Orbax said. “This one also corresponds conveniently with the new moon. So, that means that there’s going to be no bright objects in our sky to obscure even the dimmest meteor.” The name “Perseid” is derived from the Perseus constellation, because the meteors may look like they are falling from it. Perseus was a Greek mythological hero. Perseid viewing tips Anyone who wants to watch the Perseids is encouraged to get far away from light pollution, such as street lights and city lights, as possible. That will increase the odds of seeing fainter meteors. The Canadian Space Agency also recommends setting up a chair or lying down on a blanket to settle in for the long haul – the shower will continue through the night. Patience is also key, as it may take time for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.
