3 spectacular meteor showers to look out for in Ontario this summer [Video]

If you’re looking for something unforgettable to do on warm summer nights, three major meteor showers are set to light up the skies over Ontario in the coming months. From dazzling fireballs to subtle streaks at dawn, skywatchers of all experience levels may want to mark their calendars.

One of the strongest daytime meteor showers of the year, the Arietids peak around June 7 and are best viewed during the dark hour before dawn.

According to EarthSky, meteoroids from this shower strike Earth’s atmosphere at speeds of 39 km/s (87,000 mph). While the exact origin remains uncertain, spaceweather.com reports they may come from sungrazing asteroid 1566 Icarus, Comet 96P/Machholz, or the Kreutz family of comets.

Although the shower can produce up to 200 meteors per hour, much of that activity occurs during daylight, making most meteors difficult to spot. A first-quarter moon on June 3 will provide better conditions for …