METEORS OVER WESTWOOD LAKE

The sky IS falling!

Every day, about 10 tons of dust, gravel and big rocks fall from space and hit the Earth. When they hit our atmosphere, they heat up and glow and leave a shining trail. Seeing a meteor blaze across the sky is one of nature’s most amazing sights.

Two of the biggest meteor showers of the year are the Perseids in August and the Leonids in December. Given our cloudy winters here in Nanaimo, the Perseids in August are the best chance for people to see this amazing display.

To help people view this amazing natural event, volunteers from the non-profit Nanaimo Astronomy Society are holding an outreach session at Westwood Lake during the peak time of the Perseids Meteor Shower on the night of Saturday August 11, 2012.

Volunteers will also bring out their telescopes to show other deep sky wonders like star clusters, galaxies and nebulae.

The event starts as soon as it is dark. Visitors should dress very warmly and bring lawn chairs and bug repellent.

Like all outdoor events, this one is weather dependent. If there is significant cloud cover, the event will be canceled without notice.

For more information, visit http://NanaimoAstronomy.com