How to Watch a Meteor Shower in Progress Until 23 August
Between the recent rare comet and the 4th July penumbral eclipse, these were excellent few weeks for astronomy. But even more can be seen in the night sky: it’s a 42-day meteor shower . Although it started on July 12, the meteor shower will be most noticeable this week on July 28 and 29 and will continue until August 23. Here’s what you need to know about this astronomical event.
How to watch a meteor shower
Although the soul of Delta Aquariid is favored by the southern hemisphere, it is also visible from mid-northern latitudes, according to EarthSky . Like other meteor showers, this one is best seen after midnight until dawn (this applies to time zones around the world). So for this it is best to choose between midnight and dawn on July 28 and 29. Since the moon makes it difficult to see meteor showers unless you catch it during this week’s peak, NASA suggests trying again in August. 11-13 .
But you can’t just go outside and see the meteors right away – it takes a little time and patience. Here’s what NASA recommends :
Find a place away from the city or street lights. Prepare a sleeping bag, blanket, or sun lounger. Lie on your back and look up, looking at as much of the sky as possible. If you look halfway between the horizon and the zenith and 45 degrees from the constellation Aquarius, you will improve your chances of seeing Delta Aquarius. In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient – the show will run until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse of it.
So pick a night (ideally this week) without rain, grab a blanket and go outside to see this natural phenomenon.