How to watch the Delta Aquariids, Alpha Capricornids meteor showers this July
July will give stargazers two opportunities to check out meteor showers. Here's what to know if you plan on tuning in.
Both the Southern Delta Aquariids – stemming from the constellation Aquarius – and the Alpha Capricornids – stemming from the constellation Capricorn – will appear in the night sky this month, according to the American Meteor Society.
The Delta Aquariids produce medium-speed meteors that are faint, while the Alpha Capricornids produce slow-moving bright meteors.
The Aquariids will be the grander of the two showers and is believed to be remnants of the comet 96P Machholz. During the shower's peak, viewers could witness 15 to 20 shooting stars each hour. The Capricornids, stemming from the periodic comet 169P/NEAT, will show viewers five shooting stars per hour, according to EarthSky.org.
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The Delta Aquariids meteor shower is active from July 18 to Aug. 12, peaking from July 29 to July 30. They are best seen from the southern tropics. This year's waxing crescent moon setting before the radiant is high in the sky means viewing conditions will be most favorable during the morning hours.
The Alpha Capricornids meteor shower is active from July 12 to Aug. 12, peaking from July 29 to July 30. The Capricornids will provide good viewing experiences on either side of the equator and are best viewed during the evening and early at night.
The best spot for viewing is a dark area away from city lights with a clear view of the sky. If it's a high-altitude location, that's even better.
Make sure you arrive about half an hour before the showers begin to give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. This allows you to better see fainter meteors, according to Starwalk.Space.
Alongside this double spectacle, viewers may also see early activity from the Perseids meteor shower.
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Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin atkgriffin@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: July meteor showers, Delta Aquariids, Alpha Capricornids, peaking soon
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WASHINGTON (AP) — It's almost time for summer's meteor shower duet. The Southern Delta Aquariid and the Alpha Capricornid meteor showers peak at the same time — in the early morning of July 30. Without too much interference from moonlight — the waxing moon will be only about a quarter full — the meteors should appear bright and clear in regions away from city lights. With each shower expected to produce up to a dozen visible meteors per hour under dark skies, the doubleheader means the total number of meteors 'do add up,' said Thaddeus LaCoursiere, planetarium program coordinator at the Bell Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota. 'Look for flashes of light in the night sky,' he said, adding that both are 'very nice classic meteor showers.' The Alpha Capricornids — produced by slower-moving meteors — may have tails that linger slightly longer in the sky, said Nick Moskovitz of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Viewing of each shower lasts through August 12. What is a meteor shower? As the Earth orbits the sun, several times a year it passes through debris left by passing comets and sometimes asteroids. The source of the Delta Aquariids is debris from comet 96P/Machholz. The Alpha Capricornids stem from the comet 169P/NEAT. When these fast-moving space rocks enter Earth's atmosphere, the debris encounters new resistance from the air and becomes very hot, eventually burning up. Sometimes the surrounding air glows briefly, leaving behind a fiery tail — the end of a 'shooting star.' You don't need special equipment to see the various meteor showers that flash across annually, just a spot away from city lights. How to view a meteor shower The best time to watch a meteor shower is in the early predawn hours when the moon is low in the sky. Competing sources of light — such as a bright moon or artificial glow — are the main obstacles to a clear view of meteors. Cloudless nights when the moon wanes smallest are optimal viewing opportunities. And keep looking up, not down. Your eyes will be better adapted to spot shooting stars if you aren't checking your phone. When is the next meteor shower? The next major meteor shower, the Perseids, peaks in mid August. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Solve the daily Crossword
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WASHINGTON -- It's almost time for summer's meteor shower duet. The Southern Delta Aquariid and the Alpha Capricornid meteor showers peak at the same time — in the early morning of July 30. Without too much interference from moonlight — the waxing moon will be only about a quarter full — the meteors should appear bright and clear in regions away from city lights. With each shower expected to produce up to a dozen visible meteors per hour under dark skies, the doubleheader means the total number of meteors 'do add up,' said Thaddeus LaCoursiere, planetarium program coordinator at the Bell Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota. 'Look for flashes of light in the night sky,' he said, adding that both are 'very nice classic meteor showers.' The Alpha Capricornids — produced by slower-moving meteors — may have tails that linger slightly longer in the sky, said Nick Moskovitz of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Viewing of each shower lasts through August 12. As the Earth orbits the sun, several times a year it passes through debris left by passing comets and sometimes asteroids. The source of the Delta Aquariids is debris from comet 96P/Machholz. The Alpha Capricornids stem from the comet 169P/NEAT. When these fast-moving space rocks enter Earth's atmosphere, the debris encounters new resistance from the air and becomes very hot, eventually burning up. Sometimes the surrounding air glows briefly, leaving behind a fiery tail — the end of a 'shooting star.' You don't need special equipment to see the various meteor showers that flash across annually, just a spot away from city lights. The best time to watch a meteor shower is in the early predawn hours when the moon is low in the sky. Competing sources of light — such as a bright moon or artificial glow — are the main obstacles to a clear view of meteors. Cloudless nights when the moon wanes smallest are optimal viewing opportunities. And keep looking up, not down. Your eyes will be better adapted to spot shooting stars if you aren't checking your phone. The next major meteor shower, the Perseids, peaks in mid August. ___
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