Jupiter, Saturn and Venus also visible in the sky

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Charles Perry

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Sky watchers in New Brunswick will have the opportunity over the next few nights to view the Orionid meteor showers, which should be clearly visible in the darkened skies.

The Orionids, which make an annual appearance, will be at their peak overnight, tonight, said Dr. Robert Hawkes of Sackville, physics and astronomy professor at Mount Allison University. They will be coming out of the eastern sky and shooting across the heavens, he said.

Although you will be able to see them in the late evening, the best view will be in the wee hours of the morning (after midnight from about 1 to 4 a.m.), he said. And the annual spectacle will be assisted tonight by a forecast of clear skies.

But if you miss them tonight, Hawkes said they will still be visible on Tuesday and for the next several nights.

The Orionid meteor shower does not comprise the numbers of meteors falling, such as would occur with the Perseids meteor showers in August, said the Mount Allison professor. "But it is still spectacular involving a significant number of meteors," he said.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Orionids, which derives their name from the constellation, Orion, is that the meteor showers actually intersect material from Halley's Comet, said Hawkes.

You will be able to have a vague view of the showers if you live in a New Brunswick city, said the astronomy professor. But if you really want to have a clear view of the spectacle, you have to drive a few miles out into a rural area, he said.

He explained that "light pollution" from all the lights burning in the municipalities throughout the night would blur your view of the Orionid meteor showers.

Meanwhile, Hawkes noted that Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is still visible in the night sky. Around 8:30 p.m., he said the planet is west to southwest in the sky, and by 11 p.m., is south but not as high in the sky as earlier in the evening.

You cannot miss it, he said, noting Jupiter is one of the brightest objects in the sky.

Hawkes said Neptune and Uranus are also visible at this time. But they are higher in the sky and you would not be able to see them with the naked eye, he said.

Even with a pair of binoculars, said the Mt. A. professor, you would only be able to see a "dot of light." However, with just a regular telescope, he said you would have no problem seeing the two planets.

Another planet, which sky watchers can currently see with the naked eye, is Saturn, said Hawkes. Noting it rises at approximately 4:20 a.m., he said you can only see it during the pre-dawn period.

"It is not as bright as Jupiter, but is a little brighter than the stars in the Big Dipper," he said.

Also, you are beginning to see the planet Venus around 7:40 p.m. in the western sky close to the horizon as it is getting dark, said Hawkes.

* Charles Perry's weather column appears daily.