The Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks over Asia on July 30 – here's how to catch it
For now, here's when and how to catch the Delta Aquariid meteor shower in Asia.
What is the Delta Aquariid meteor shower?
The Delta Aquariid is a meteor shower that originates from Comet 96P/Machholz, which orbits the Sun about once every five years. The meteor shower appears to radiate from the constellation Aquarius, hence the 'Aquariid' in its name.
The Delta Aquariids are not known for their having high meteor counts, but its meteors flash by steadily at a rate of two to five per hour. According to EarthSky, 5 to 10 percent of Delta Aqauriid mtoers leave persistent trains, which are glowing ionised gas trails which linger a second or two after the meteor has passed.
When will the Delta Aquariid meteor shower be visible?
Technically, you can step out any time between now and late August to catch a glimpse of the Delta Aquariids. However, the meteor shower peaks on July 30 at around 5am – your best chance of catching the celestial show.
Can I see the Delta Aquariid meteor shower with my naked eye?
Yes, you can!
Cross your fingers and hope for clear skies as that's when you'll get the best view of the meteor shower, no special equipment needed. But if the weather doesn't quite play along, you can always bring out a telescope or binoculars to enhance the experience. You'll also want to give your eyes some time to adjust to the darkness so it's best if you avoid looking at your screens and phone.
Where is the best place to view the Delta Aquariid meteor shower?
Find some where away from city or street lights, such as a park, reservoir, or beach. Look about halfway between the horizon and the zenith and 45 degrees from Aquarius, where the meteors are expected to originate.
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Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Here's how to see the Delta Aquariid meteor shower in the UK this week
Stargazers are in for a treat as a breathtaking meteor shower peaks across the UK this week. The Delta Aquariid, also known as the Southern Delta Aquariids, will light up the sky most brightly tomorrow night. While the meteor shower is more visible, as its name implies, in the Southern Hemisphere, the UK and the wider Northern Hemisphere can still catch a good show, experts told Metro. Some meteor showers are caused by comets, dirty snowballs made of the leftovers from the start of our solar system around 4.6billion years ago. Comets leave behind trails of ice and rock that linger in space years after they leave, said Dr Cyrielle Opitom, of the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh. She told Metro: 'Small dust particles left behind then enter the atmosphere and become meteors. This is usually the source of meteor showers. 'Other times, random small asteroids or pieces of rock not related to a comet enter the atmosphere and can also become meteors.' When the comet waste enters the atmosphere, it hits the sky at such speed that it bursts into flames, causing a celestial fireworks display. Scientists aren't 100% sure which comet is behind the Delta Aquariid, though they suspect it's from the 3.7-mile-wide Comet 96P Machholz, says Charlotte Bays, the secretary of the space rock monitoring group UK Fireball Alliance. The shooting stars case occurs as the Earth 'passes through the stream of debris shed' by the snowball, said Bays. 'It is also what we call a 'short-period' comet, completing an orbit every 5.24 years; this year,' she added. The debris you're seeing isn't from the comet passing by; it's just the trail it left behind years ago. The next time Comet 96P Machholz will glide past us is June 16, 2028. Astronomers named the shower after the constellation Aquarius and its brightest star, Delta Aquarii, which is the point of the sky from which the meteors seem to come. Typically, the Earth passes through the cosmic rubble from late July to early August. This year, the shower will peak on the night of Tuesday July 30, but remain visible until August 23. The peak, which is when Earth reaches the densest part of the cosmic debris, is the best chance to see the meteor shower, explained Charlotte Bays, the secretary of the monitoring group UK Fireball Alliance. Stargazers can expect up to 20 meteors an hour for days with a dark sky and no pesky Moon. About one in 10 Delta Aquariid meteors have persistent trains, glowing gassy trails that give these space rocks their iconic shape. While you might assume you need a fancy telescope or binoculars to see the meteors, the naked eye is best, as the tech limits your field of vision. To see a meteor shower you need to get to a place that has a clear view of the night sky, recommended Dr Edward Bloomer, senior astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Ideally, that's as far away as possible from cities, street lights and traffic. Planetariums, astronomy clubs or even maps like this one for light pollution and this for nighttime brightness can help. But stargazers have two other foes – the weather and the Moon. So, it's always best to check the weather report for that night as well as how visible the Moon will be. Be prepared for long stretches where nothing happens, Dr Bloomer half-joked, 'or little flurries of activity where you see several in quick succession'. 'The appearance is of a short-lived streak of light ('shooting stars' is pretty apt!) that will be radiating outwards from a point,' he added. 'Importantly, unless you've set up with recording equipment, a shooting star only lasts long enough for quite a personal experience: there's no time really to point it out to anyone before it will have disappears. 'It's always fun to go out and have a look with others, but you'll all have a unique encounter!' More Trending Dr Bloomer stressed, however, that the constellation Aquarius is fairly low on the horizon, which might make seeing the shower tricky. 'But it's not impossible,' he added. 'The number one thing is to give yourself time to adjust to the dark (put your phone away!) and be prepared to wait. 'The randomised arrival of the shooting stars means you need to have a little patience.' For those who might miss the shower, the International Meteor Organization lists all the meteor showers that can be seen this year. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Asteroid bigger than the Leaning Tower of Pisa to pass Earth in days MORE: We could get 'proof of aliens by Christmas' after 'interstellar visitor' flies past us MORE: Earth is spinning so fast that today will be shorter – but is time going faster?
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Tonight is the best night for stargazing all summer
If you're a fan of stargazing, make sure you have your eyes fixed on the skies this evening. Tonight (July 28) is the best night for stargazing all summer – and you don't want to miss it! Eagle–eyed viewers will be able to catch not just one, but two meteor showers tonight – the Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids. If you're lucky, you'll be able to see up to 25 shooting stars flying overhead every hour. Crescent moon Our moon follows a cycle which repeats about once a month (29.5 days), and includes eight phases – new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. Tonight, the moon will be in the Waxing Crescent phase, meaning just a small sliver is visible in the night sky. 'This silver sliver of a Moon occurs when the illuminated half of the Moon faces mostly away from Earth, with only a tiny portion visible to us from our planet,' NASA explained. 'It grows daily as the Moon's orbit carries the Moon's dayside farther into view. 'Every day, the Moon rises a little bit later.' Alongside the crescent moon, you might notice a bright red 'star' in the night sky. This isn't actually a star at all – it's Mars. While the Red Planet is well past its brightest point this year, it remains a distinct, red dot in the night sky. For the best chance of seeing the planet, look at the moon around 45 minutes after sunset. According to Live Science, the gap between the moon and Mars will be about one degree, which is roughly the width of your pinky finger held at arm's length. Two meteor showers Arguably the most exciting event this evening is the Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower, which will sync up with the Alpha Capricornid Meteor Shower. The Delta Aquariids are active from 12 July to 23 August, but will peak between 29–30 July, meaning tonight is a perfect time to catch it. 'A moderate meteor shower peaking in late July, the Delta Aquariids kick off the summer meteor season in the Northern Hemisphere,' Royal Museums Greenwich explains. 'Although best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, those living at mid–latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere will still be able to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower.' Tonight, experts predict that the Delta Aquariids will serve up to 20 shooting stars every hour. However, the Alpha Capricornids will provide an additional five shooting stars every hour – meaning you can expect up to 25 meteors in total. For your best chance of seeing the shooting stars, find an area well away from city lights if you can. 'Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair – lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible,' NASA says. Because meteors can be quite faint, keen astronomers need to get away from metropolitan areas. 'As with almost every shower, try and find a wide open space, as far from city lights as possible and fill your view with as much of the night sky as possible,' said Dr Greg Brown, public astronomy officer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Do not worry if they are not instantly visible; NASA says it takes about 30 minutes in the dark for your eyes to adapt and you will begin to see the meteors. Be patient – the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- South Wales Argus
How to see Delta Aquariid meteor shower in UK this week
The annual Delta Aquariid meteor shower will remain active until August 23, with its peak taking place this coming Wednesday (July 30). Here is all you need to know about the Delta Aquariid meteor shower and how to view it in the UK. What is the Delta Aquariid meteor shower? As explained by the National Space Centre (NSC) website, meteor showers are when the Earth passes through the debris of a comet. "The dust and gas left behind by the comet burn up in the atmosphere causing a shooting star." Must-See Sky Events in 2025 The Delta Aquariids marks the start of the summer meteor season in the Northern Hemisphere. It is one of two meteor showers that converge in the summer, alongside the more famous Perseids, which is set to peak on August 12/13 in the UK. The Delta Aquariids get their name from the constellation in the night sky that they appear to radiate from - the constellation of Aquarius, near the bright star Delta Aquarii. How to see the Delta Aquariid meteor shower in the UK Despite the Delta Aquariid meteor shower being more visible in the southern hemisphere, those in the northern hemisphere will still be able to catch a glimpse. NSC says to face towards the south-east, with the meteors appearing to originate from near the star Delta Aquarii. However, the meteors can appear all over the sky, and as RMG explains, meteors will appear longer the further away from the radiant you look. What's visible in the night sky in the UK 2025 The meteor shower can be best viewed just after midnight, with RMG predicting a "steady stream of meteors" expected over several days. While the shower doesn't have a noticeable peak, it's expected that it will reach its maximum rate on July 30. Tips on how to best view the Delta Aquariid meteor shower The Royal Museums Greenwich has provided its tips on viewing the meteor shower. Its website says to ensure to check the weather forecast ahead of time, and if the forecast isn't favourable, find a different location to observe from or view the meteor shower on another day. It adds that in 2025, the Delta Aquariid meteor shower's maximum occurs six days after New Moon, which took place on July 24, so observing conditions are "reasonably favourable". Top tips on viewing the shower include: Make sure that you are in a dark sky area and have an unobstructed view towards the south Recommended Reading: Lie down on a blanket or sit in a lawn chair to ensure that you have a wide view of the sky Your naked eye is the best instrument to use to see meteors – don't use binoculars or a telescope as these have narrow fields of view Allow your eyes to adapt to the dark and don't look at any lights, or at your phone, to maintain your dark adaptation The Go Stargazing website also has some of the publicly accessible dark sky sites in the UK.
