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Good News: A celestial double whammy

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For those of us in the northern hemisphere, a solar eclipse is going to happen on the same day as the peak of the best summer meteor shower!

We can look forward to a celestial double whammy and you don’t need any special kit to enjoy it. On August 12/13 (this Wednesday and Thursday), the Moon will pass directly in front of the Sun, giving us a view of a spectacular solar eclipse across North America, the UK and Ireland and continental Europe. Then, as the Sun sets and night falls, Earth will pass through debris left behind by a comet, producing one of the best meteor showers of the year.

For stargazers, this is a date worth planning ahead for – and hopefully one to remember.

For every total solar eclipse, there’s an imaginary thin ‘path of totality’ stretching across Earth and, if you happen to be standing within that path, you’ll see a total solar eclipse – dramatically transforming daytime into twilight darkness for a few minutes and creating a surreal, eerie twilight atmosphere. Outside the path of totality, you’ll see the Moon cover some – but not all – of the Sun, producing a partial solar eclipse.

As the Sun sets and the eclipse excitement subsides, get ready for the second part of the cosmic entertainment. Every year from mid-July to late August, Earth passes through debris left behind by a giant ball of rock and ice known as comet Swift-Tuttle. When this happens, tiny grains of cosmic dust slam into Earth’s atmosphere, generating shooting stars, or meteor trails.

 What good news have you heard today?  If you have good news text the details to the TbayTel Talk & Text Line at 807-223-5215.

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  • Born in Cochenour a “few” decades ago, he lives and breathes Sunset Country. He's been on-air for CKDR and you for over 38 years and by his own admission he's still trying to get it right! When not on-air Richard likes to cosplay as 'Spider-Dad McCarthy'. Listen weekday mornings from 6 to 10 on CKDR and on 'the web' at YourSunsetCountry.ca. Find out what's happening in Sunset Country with McCarthy In The Morning.

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