Delta Aquariids, Alpha Capricornids

Two meteor showers are reaching their peak this week and stargazers, both seasoned and aspiring, won’t want to miss it. The Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids meteor showers both peak this week and will allow you to see several meteors per hour.


The Delta Aquariids shower is an annual event that usually happens between mid-July and mid-August, that comes from Comet 96P Machholz. The shower got its name from the Aquarius constellation because their radiant, where the meteors originate, is near the Delta Aquarii star. The shower will take place this year from July 12 to August 23 and will peak Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with about 20 meteors visible per hour. It’s best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, though it may be visible elsewhere as long as there’s low light pollution.


The Alpha Capricornids shower also usually occurs between early July and mid-August and is peaking this year from July 25 to July 30, with about three visible meteors per hour. It forms as a result of the dust from comet 169P/NEAT. This shower is visible from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and is known for its occasional fireballs (i.e. very bright meteors).


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Published on July 28, 2020 13:45
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