How to See the Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower This Weekend
The Delta Aquarida meteor shower prepares to peak on Sunday and Monday, so if you’re going to try to catch it, now is your chance. Although located in the southern hemisphere, it is still visible from mid-northern latitudes. Wherever you are, the best time to try a shower is from midnight to dawn.
Delta Aquarids are active from July 12 (and will last until August 23), but the end of July is the best time to see its 10-20 meteors per hour. It is superimposed on the long-awaited Perseid meteor shower, which has already begun and will peak on August 12-13. And with the arrival of the new moon on July 31 / August. 1, the sky will be beautiful and dark in the first week of August to see both showers.
MSN explains how we can tell the difference between the two:
The Perseids come from the constellation Perseus, named after the hero Perseus in Greek mythology, near the famous Double Cluster. The constellation is located in the northern sky and is one of the largest. There is no need for the Perseids to look for the radiant point, because they fly in all parts of the sky.
Tracing in the opposite direction, it appears that the Delta Aquarids originate from a point in front of the constellation Aquarius-Aquarius, which crosses the southern part of the sky in North America. The point of emission of Delta Aquarid almost coincides with the star Skat (Delta Aquarius), after which the stream is named.
Patience is key with the Delta Aquarid shower. Move into a dark, open space, sit back or lie on a blanket, give your eyes time to adjust, and then wait for the comet debris to appear.