A Delta Aquáridas meteor shower reaches its peak on Wednesday (31)but it has already been observed in the night sky for a few days.
The rain receives this name because it appears close to the constellation Aquarius (the radiant point of the rain), more precisely one of its brightest stars: Delta Aquarii. It usually occurs between mid-July and the end of August every year, and is best observed from the Southern Hemisphere.
Meteor showers occur when a large number of rocks, left behind by a comet, enter Earth’s atmosphere at the same time. As they fall towards the planet, the air resistance over the rocks causes them to become extremely hot, forming several “shooting stars” in the sky.
The comet that gives rise to the Delta Aquarids shower is possibly 96P Machholz, although scientists are not yet sure. Around 10 to 20 meteors can be seen per hour, which fly by at around 145 thousand km/h.
How to observe the Delta Aquarids meteor shower?
To observe the Delta Aquarids meteor shower, simply find the constellation Aquarius in the night sky and look in its direction.
The best time in the morning to observe the meteors will be between 1 am and 4 am, when the constellation Aquarius should be very high in the sky, directly above our heads. Although the peak occurs in the early hours of the 31st, the rain should remain clearly visible days before and days after.
Tips for better observing a meteor shower
- Find one dark, secluded viewing spot away from city lights. Once there, your eyes may take 15 to 20 minutes to get used to the dark (in other words, don’t check your cell phone, as the brightness of the screen in your eyes will interfere with observation.
- Take a blanket if it’s cold there or a comfortable chair with you, as meteor watching involves the waiting time.
- Once you’ve found your observation spot, lie down on the ground and look up at the sky. An interactive map made available by astronomy applications should help find the direction of the radiant. The higher it is above the horizon line, the more meteors you are likely to see.
- Meteor showers usually originate at the point where the radiant is located, but they can be seen anywhere in the sky.
check out here astronomy apps to help locate and track astronomical phenomena in the night sky.
Share:
