- This week, stargazers can look forward to a spectacular double meteor shower, featuring the Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaking in tandem with the smaller Alpha Capricornid meteor shower.
- On Tuesday morning, the Delta Aquariids will be visible at a rate of 15 to 20 meteors per hour from the Northern Hemisphere.
- Simultaneously, the Alpha Capricornid meteor shower is projected to offer around five meteors per hour.
Prepare for an exhilarating meteor shower extravaganza.
The Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower culminates in late July, coinciding this year with the smaller Alpha Capricornids.
The Delta Aquariids grace the skies of North America each late summer. This year’s peak activity occurs early Tuesday morning, with an anticipated 15 to 20 meteors visible per hour in the Northern Hemisphere, especially under dark skies. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere are expected to have even better views. The shower will continue until August 21, as per the American Meteor Society.
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At the same time, the Alpha Capricornid meteor shower is expected to yield about five meteors per hour and will last until August 15.
A Perseid meteor streaks through the sky above desert pine trees on Aug. 13, 2015, in Nevada’s Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. This year, the Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower, reaching its peak in late July, will coincide with the smaller Alpha Capricornid meteor shower. The next significant meteor event will be the Perseids, peaking in mid-August. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Here’s everything you need to know about the Delta Aquariids and other meteor showers.
What is a meteor shower?
Various meteor showers take place every year, and no special equipment is required to witness them.
The majority of meteor showers are the result of debris from comets. The Delta Aquariids are believed to come from comet 96P/Machholz, while the Alpha Capricornids are linked to comet 169P/NEAT.
When space debris enters Earth’s atmosphere, it encounters air resistance which generates intense heat, causing the surrounding air to glow and leaving a fleeting fiery tail—a “shooting star.”
The illuminated air pockets surrounding the rapidly moving space rocks, which can range from the size of a dust particle to that of a boulder, might be visible in the night sky.
Though these two meteor showers may not be prolific, the Alpha Capricornids often yield very bright meteors, according to University of Warwick astronomer Don Pollacco.
For skywatchers, he notes, “one bright one is worth 20 faint ones.”
How can I view a meteor shower?
Meteor showers are typically most visible between midnight and the pre-dawn hours.
To enhance your chances of seeing shooting stars, find dark skies away from urban lights. Meteor showers also appear brightest on clear, cloudless nights during times when the moon is less than full.
Avoid checking your phone, as it can disrupt your night vision, advised NASA’s Bill Cooke.
The Southern Hemisphere is expected to have the best views of the Delta Aquariids. With a waning moon at around 30% full, the clearest observations should occur post-midnight.
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When is the next meteor shower?
The meteor society maintains an updated calendar of upcoming major meteor showers, highlighting peak viewing days and lunar conditions.
The next significant meteor shower is the Perseids, which are set to peak in mid-August.
