How to See a Double Meteor Shower in July
Skywatchers have set a reminder for late July, when two meteor showers – the Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids – are expected to be visible simultaneously. On July 30 and 31, two meteor showers are expected to peak. But these aren’t the only nights to look up: Every night from now until early August there should be a higher-than-average number of fireballs and shooting stars in the sky.
When is the best time to watch a double meteor shower?
The best time to look for meteors in late July and early August is between 2 and 4 am. The Southern Delta Aquarids shower will likely be a big spectacle for those in the Southern Hemisphere, but those in the Northern Hemisphere will be able to catch some streaks of meteors. southern part of the sky from the South Delta Aquarids stream. You can see the Alpha Capricornids when looking west.
How many meteors can you expect to see?
The Southern Delta Aquarid shower is expected to produce 15 to 20 visible meteors per hour (if you’re somewhere dark), which is about two to three times as many meteors as you might see on an average night.
Alpha Capricorns are less numerous. This shower barely produces more meteors than would be seen on any other night, but the Alpha Capricornids are notable for other reasons: first, because its meteors are slow. Due to the movement of the comet’s trail relative to the movement of the Earth, Alpha Capricornid meteors hang in the sky longer than other streak meteors. And then there are fireballs. Alpha Caps are known for producing bright fireballs. Last year’s rain led to a higher-than-expected number of fireball sightings , and some astronomers predict the Alpha Capricornids will become more visible each year.
Where is the best place to see meteors?
If you’re interested in watching meteors, the key word is “darkness.” Light pollution in cities negatively affects all types of stargazing, so it is necessary to get as far away from civilization as possible. I’ve written a more detailed guide to finding dark places if you want some tips.
Another key concept in meteor viewing is openness. Due to the Southern Delta Aquarids shower in late July and early August, more meteors will likely appear in the southern sky, but a shooting star can appear anywhere, so the best viewing locations are those with more open sky than possible. Speaking of seeing as much of the sky as possible, you can leave your binoculars and telescope at home—you’ll be able to see a wider area of the night sky with your naked eye.