Local photographer, Dylan Kaniski, prepares for some sleepless nights to ensure the perfect shot. “I’m always really excited about this meteor shower, it’s one of the biggest of the year and we always get a lot of great meteors.” Meteor showers are clouds of debris left when comets pass in front of Earth as they orbit the sun. The Perseids originate from Comet Swift-Tuttle, which was last visible in 1992. Although Cochranites won’t see the comet again until 2125, in the meantime, skygazers can enjoy the annual shower of debris. “It changes every year and some years are better than others. But this one is special because the Perseids are pretty consistent from year to year. I usually have a really good shot and that’s why people are really excited about it.” Unfortunately, a full moon will make viewing difficult this year, but Kaniski has plenty of advice for those looking to experience the Perseids for the first time. “The best way to see the meteor shower is to get somewhere in the dark first. It doesn’t have to be anywhere too far. I personally love going to the mountains, but anywhere around Cochrane, you can go into the countryside just 10 minutes outside of town.” “If you can’t get out of town, just going to a local park or even turning your back to any street lights and just letting your eyes adjust will help.” He also believes that you don’t need top-of-the-line photography equipment to take amazing shots. “You don’t need fancy equipment or anything special. Meteors move fast enough and are usually bright enough that you don’t really have a hard time capturing them with cameras of any standard.” “For camera tips, I like to do a higher ISO around like 6,400 and usually a 20 second exposure time. If people are going out and want to capture it with their cameras, I suggest using a focal length that is a little narrower because many meteors can be a little smaller and the narrower focal length will allow you to emphasize the size of the meteor. Something between 20 and 35mm is what I would recommend.” “I would stay away from the ultra-wide lenses that you see many night and landscape photographers using.” While the 2022 Perseid meteor shower will peak early on August 13, 2022, meteors could be visible on the clear nights leading up to and into the previous Saturday morning.
