By Jaryn Vecchio
Early Perseid meteor July 25, 2016/Photo by Ken Christianson
You’re being reminded to look to the sky during the night in mid-August for an annual meteor shower.
The Perseids can be seen every year for a couple weeks with Fort McMurray in a perfect location to view the unique phenomenon.
Jon Tupper, Creator of the Fort McMurray Amateur Astronomy Enthusiasts group, tells Mix News these meteors can be seen with the naked eye.
“No equipment is acquired other than a can of good bug spray… just pull up a lawn chair, lay back and enjoy.”
The ideal time to see the spectacle would be between August 10 and 13.
Local amateur astronomers are asking the public to check all outdoor video footage to see if they caught a rare meteor sighting.
Dwayne Tilley was helping his neighbour on Sunday around 9 p.m. when he saw a bright light fill the night sky.
What he saw turned out to be a fireball meteor, one of several reportedly seen across Alberta between Sunday night and Monday morning.
“I’ve seen some cool stuff in the past like satellites coming in, burning up… it was something like that, it was like a huge fireball,” added Tilley.
According to the Fort McMurray Amateur Astronomy Enthusiasts group, several people across Wood Buffalo saw the meteor, however, they can’t find any footage.