A Summer of Celestial Events

The Perseids are a meteor shower – essentially, what you see are pieces of comet debris that heat up as they enter the atmosphere and burn up in a bright burst of light – that occurs each year from mid-July to late August. This year, the peak moment to observe them should be overnight on August 12th to August 13th.

Best spot (if skies are clear): For the best viewing experience, head to an area away from polluting urban lights, where the sky is darkest, between midnight and dawn.

P.S: We know it's still far off, but 2028 might be the year of a particularly intense Perseid meteor storm!

We experience a full moon every month, but a supermoon only occurs three to four times a year when the full moon coincides with the closest point to Earth during its orbit, making it appear larger and brighter. What's special about the August 19th Supermoon, also known as the Sturgeon Moon? It's the third full moon in a season and a supermoon, and it will be the last one of its kind we'll observe before May 20, 2027. 

Best spot: While the moon is visible from anywhere, an urban setting with trees and buildings can enhance its impressiveness by providing a sense of scale. Watch it shortly after moonrise or before moonset, when it appears low on the horizon. 

On the morning of August 28th, you should be able to see one of the three largest planetary alignment of the year: Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Start observing the sky at least an hour before sunrise at your location. And if you miss the exact day, don’t worry. The alignment should be visible during a few days.

Best spot: For the best clarity, head away from urban light pollution, but even urban residents should be able to see it without telescopes or binoculars.

As we bid farewell to summer, we'll be treated to a Super Harvest Moon Eclipse, a stunning and rare celestial event. Specifically, not only will the moon appear larger, being closest to Earth during its orbit (the Harvest Moon denotes the full moon nearest to the September equinox), but we'll also witness a partial lunar eclipse. During this phenomenon, Earth will cast its shadow over a small portion of the moon's surface, imparting it with a reddish hue. 

Best spot: If you're in Eastern Canada, especially around Montreal, note that the partial eclipse will commence on September 17th around 10:12 pm, as the moon begins to take on a reddish hue. The peak of the eclipse will occur at 10:44 pm. 

P.S: We’ll be granted a Total Lunar Eclipse on March 13-14th of 2025.

Enjoy and capture the wonders of the celestial events, and don't forget to share your content with us by tagging #quartzcoexplore. We can't wait to see and share the most amazing phenomena on our social media platforms!