Space fans, get ready for an exciting month of spectacular sights as meteor shower season begins. On July 30, skywatchers will enjoy two phenomena as the Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids meteor showers both peak in the night sky. This rare phenomenon offers people, especially in southern latitudes, the chance to see meteors every two minutes during the darkest hours.
The Delta Aquariids meteor shower, active from July 18 to August 21, accounts for the majority of meteors, with up to 25 meteors per hour. The Alpha Capricords meteor shower is less frequent but makes up for it with its brightness and the occasional fireball. According to the American Meteor Society, “What’s remarkable about this meteor shower is the number of bright fireballs it produces during its active period.”
These meteor showers are named after their radiant points, or the points in the sky where the meteors are thought to emerge. The Delta Aquarids meteor shower appears to emerge from the constellation Aquarius, close to the Delta Aquarids meteor shower, while the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower emerges from the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower, close to the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower.
Meteor showers occur when debris from a comet enters Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds and burns up, creating a streak of light. The Delta Aquarids meteor shower is associated with Comet 96P Machholz, and the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower is associated with Comet 169P/NEAT.
While it may be harder to see these meteor showers at northern latitudes, there’s still plenty to look forward to. The Perseid meteor shower, which peaks in mid-August, will put on a spectacular show on the nights of August 11 and 12, with 50 to 100 meteors per hour. This year, there’s no bright moonlight to interfere, making viewing conditions excellent.
For optimal viewing, it’s best to avoid city lights and wait about 30 minutes to allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Peak viewing is usually during the pre-dawn hours, when Earth passes through the stream of meteor debris.
Besides the main meteor shower, several smaller ones are active from late July through August, producing meteors that vary in colour, speed and trajectory. The Kappa Cygnids meteor shower, which peaks on August 17, is another notable meteor shower, known for its vibrant, slow-moving fireballs.
Whether you’re a seasoned meteor watcher or just starting out, there are plenty of opportunities to view these celestial phenomena this summer. Grab a spot in a dark spot like Lake Texarkana, bring some mosquito repellent, and enjoy the show.
