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Une pluie d’étoiles filantes sera à son pic au Québec et ça s’annonce magique
Prépare-toi à faire BEAUCOUP de vœux cette semaine! 🤩💫
Lève les yeux, la comète de Halley t’a laissé un petit cadeau! Les Orionides, une des pluies d’étoiles filantes les plus attendues de l’automne, atteindront leur maximum cette semaine au Québec. Et pour une fois, la météo semble vouloir coopérer : un ciel dégagé est prévu dans plusieurs régions pour la nuit du pic.
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Les Orionides reviennent chaque année à la fin octobre, quand la Terre traverse le nuage de poussières laissé par la comète de Halley. Selon la NASA, ces débris pénètrent dans l’atmosphère à environ 66 kilomètres par seconde, soit près de 238 000 km/h, ce qui en fait des météores parmi les plus rapides de l’année. Leur vitesse leur permet aussi de laisser des traînées lumineuses qui peuvent durer de quelques secondes à quelques minutes.
Après des Perséides presque parfaites en août, les conditions seront un peu moins idéales cette fois-ci. La Lune sera presque pleine pendant le pic, quelques jours avant la pleine lune du 26 octobre, et sa lumière pourrait cacher les météores les plus pâles en début de nuit. Heureusement, il y a moyen de la déjouer.
Quand observer les Orionides en 2026?
La période d’activité s’étend du 2 octobre au 7 novembre, mais le maximum est attendu le mercredi 21 octobre, selon le Planétarium de Montréal. Pour mettre toutes les chances de ton côté, l’institution recommande : « Privilégiez son observation vers 5 h lorsque le radiant est le plus haut ». Autrement dit, c’est dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi que ça se passe.
C’est aussi à ce moment-là que la Lune dérange le moins, puisqu’elle se couche plusieurs heures avant l’aube. Dans un endroit bien noir, tu pourrais compter de 10 à 20 météores à l’heure au sommet de l’activité. Pas envie de te lever aux aurores? Pas besoin : le maximum des Orionides est assez étalé, donc les nuits avant et après le pic valent aussi le coup d’œil, et tu peux commencer à scruter le ciel dès la fin de soirée.
Pour profiter du spectacle, éloigne-toi le plus possible des lumières de la ville. Le télescope et les jumelles ne sont pas nécessaires : installe-toi simplement confortablement et balaie le ciel du regard, puisque les étoiles filantes peuvent apparaître n’importe où.
Quelle sera la météo pour observer les Orionides?
Les astres semblent alignés. Selon Environnement Canada, le ciel s’annonce dégagé à Montréal dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi, avec un minimum de 3 °C. À Québec, même scénario, mais plus frisquet : on attend un ciel dégagé et un minimum de 0 °C.
La tendance se maintiendrait la nuit suivante, avec un ciel dégagé et des minimums de 4 °C à Montréal et de -1 °C à Québec. Prépare ta tuque, tes mitaines et ta plus longue liste de vœux : tu ne manqueras pas d'occasions d'en faire. Comme les prévisions peuvent changer d’ici là, garde un œil sur celles de ta région avant de partir.
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Beluga rescued from closed Ontario park dies in California
Beluga rescued from Marineland dies in San Diego
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Facebook, SeaWorld San Diego (Mandatory Credit)
A California aquarium says a beluga rescued from Marineland in Ontario has died, adding to the number of deaths of animals relocated over the summer from the now-closed Canadian facility.
SeaWorld San Diego says in a Facebook post that Cyprus, a nine-year-old male beluga that arrived at the park on Aug. 22 stopped eating on Friday, and an ultrasound later determined the animal's intestinal tract did not appear to be functioning normally.
It says Cyprus had been doing well since his arrival, eating consistently and interacting with his trainers and animal care team, along with two other rescued belugas.
But it notes belugas can mask discomfort or underlying concerns that are not immediately visible, and it says a full necropsy will be conducted.
Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., had said it was running out of money and could no longer care for the last captive whales and dolphins in Canada, and 30 of its belugas and four dolphins were transferred to other facilities in a mass relocation effort.
SeaWorld San Diego says the other rescued belugas in its care are in stable health and remain under close monitoring as they continue to adjust to their surroundings.
"As we have indicated, this process will take a considerable amount of time. Our commitment to the health, well-being and care of these belugas, like every animal we rescue, continues," the facility said in its social media post on Sunday.
It said that after the necropsy is completed, the cause of Cyprus's death will be shared with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Less than two weeks ago, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago said Caspian, a 27-year-old female beluga that was relocated from Marineland, died despite efforts to save her.
Caspian had not been eating properly and blood samples showed abnormalities in her electrolyte levels, Shedd said.
Shedd said it performed necropsies on Peekachu and Rain, two other Marineland whales that died there, and concluded that they had chronic, pre-existing diseases.
A beluga named Jelly Bean and a dolphin named Echo also died at Oceanografic Valencia in Spain after the move.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Old Age Security payments for October are bigger and eligible Canadians will get money soon
This federal benefit now offers close to $840.
Gabriel Vergani | Dreamstime
October payments of Old Age Security (OAS) will be deposited into bank accounts and delivered to mailboxes soon.
The benefit amounts for this federal pension have increased, so eligible Canadians can now receive more money.
OAS is a monthly government payment administered by Service Canada. If you're expecting your first payment or waiting for another installment, you'll get money as a direct deposit or cheque near the end of the month.
So, here's what you need to know about OAS, including the October payment date, increased payment amounts, and more.
What is Old Age Security?
OAS is a pension for eligible people who are 65 years of age or older.
It can also include additional amounts from the Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor benefits.
Who is eligible for Old Age Security?
You must be 65 years of age or older to be eligible to receive the OAS pension.
If you live in Canada, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen or a legal resident at the time your OAS pension application is approved
- have resided in Canada for at least 10 years since the age of 18
If you live outside Canada, you must:
- have been a Canadian citizen or a legal resident of Canada on the day before you left Canada
- have resided in Canada for at least 20 years since the age of 18
You can receive OAS even if you've never worked or you're still working because your employment status doesn't affect your eligibility.
If Service Canada has your information, you'll get an enrollment letter close to your 64th birthday. That means you're automatically enrolled and don't need to apply for the pension.
If it's been one month since your 64th birthday and you haven't received an enrollment letter, you may need to apply for OAS.
How much money can you get from Old Age Security payments?
The amount of money you get from OAS depends on the age you started receiving the pension, whether you're 75 or older and eligible for an increased pension amount, your net income, and how many years you've lived in Canada.
Recently, the federal government implemented a payment adjustment to reflect cost-of-living increases measured by the Consumer Price Index.
OAS benefits are now 1.4% higher for payments in October, November and December.
The maximum payment is $762.50 if you're between 65 and 74 years old, and $838.75 if you're 75 or older. That's an increase of $10.53 and $11.58 per month, respectively.
When is the next Old Age Security payment date?
The next OAS payment date is Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
How do you receive Old Age Security payments?
You can receive your OAS payment from Service Canada by direct deposit or by cheque.
If you have direct deposit set up with Service Canada, a payment will be automatically put into your bank account every month you're eligible for the pension.
If you don't have direct deposit as your payment method, a cheque will be issued during the last three business days of each month you're eligible for OAS payments. It could take longer for you to receive the money that way because cheques are mailed.
Service Canada said you can sign up for direct deposit at any time and get money directly into your bank account in Canada, the U.S. or other participating countries.
If you were recently enrolled in this program, you'll receive your first OAS payment the month after you turn 65 or on the specific date you chose.
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