The Delta Aquarid meteor shower will light up the night sky in the next day: how to watch a spectacular meteor shower
Kyiv • UNN
The Delta Aquarid meteor shower is expected to peak on the morning of July 30. Astronomers predict up to 25 shooting stars per hour, best observed over the southern horizon from midnight to dawn.
The peak will occur in the early hours of Tuesday, with astronomers expecting about 25 shooting stars per hour.
Writes UNN with reference to The Guardian.
Details
The first meteor shower of the summer may reach its peak early Tuesday morning. Then astronomers hope to see dozens of shooting stars tearing up the night sky every hour.
Like most meteor showers, the Delta Aquarids are named after the constellation in the night sky from which they appear to radiate: the constellation Aquarius, near the bright star Delta Aquarid.
From midnight to dawn, skywatchers have the best chance of seeing shooting stars, especially if they look above the southern horizon.
For reference
The activity of this meteor shower began around July 12 and lasts until August 23. However, its peak activity occurs on July 28-30.
Astronomers debate the origin of the Aquarian Delta meteor shower, with the most likely candidate being the solar comet 96P/Machholz. The four-mile-wide ball of dust, rocks, and ice makes a complete revolution around the Sun in just over five years.
How to observe better
Among the meteors of the Aquarian Delta, 5-10% leave persistent trails: luminous bands of ionized gas that are visible for one to two seconds after the meteor passes. Since telescopes and binoculars have a narrow field of view, experts recommend observing with the naked eye, having previously adjusted to the darkness.
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