The most enchanting stargazing moment of the summer is about to arrive. The “Southern Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower” and the “Alpha Capricornid Meteor Shower” will both reach their peak on the morning of July 30th, offering astronomy enthusiasts a rare “meteor shower duet.” It is expected that more than twenty meteors per hour will be visible, making it an unmissable annual observation opportunity.
The Southern Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower and the Alpha Capricornid Meteor Shower will both peak simultaneously in the early hours of next Wednesday. On that night, the moonlight interference will be minimal, with the moon phase only at the waxing crescent stage (about one-fourth illuminated), making it an excellent observation condition, especially in areas far from urban light pollution.
Each meteor shower is estimated to produce around 12 meteors per hour, and the combined total after overlapping the two showers will be even more remarkable. Thaddeus LaCoursiere, program coordinator at the Bell Museum in Saint Paul, Minnesota, noted that observers can expect a continuous flickering of lights in the night sky, describing both showers as classic and beautiful.
Nick Moskovitz, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Arizona, added that the Alpha Capricornid Meteor Shower consists of slower-moving meteors, with some leaving longer-lasting trails in the night sky, creating a more prominent visual effect.
The observation period for these two meteor showers will continue until August 12th.
As the Earth orbits the sun, it crosses paths with dust debris left by comets or asteroids. The Southern Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower originates from the 96P/Machholz comet, while the Alpha Capricornid Meteor Shower comes from the 169P/NEAT comet.
These high-speed cosmic dust particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere, generating high temperatures through friction with the air, eventually burning up and forming “shooting stars” streaking across the sky. Some meteors may even leave brief glowing trails, creating a spectacle.
Observing meteor showers does not require a telescope; one only needs to choose a dark location away from light pollution. The best viewing time is in the pre-dawn hours when the sky is still dark and the moon is low. Clear, moonlit nights are ideal conditions, and viewers should avoid looking down at their phones to avoid missing the fleeting meteors.
While conditions are optimal in the southern hemisphere for observing these two meteor showers, viewers in the northern hemisphere also have the opportunity to appreciate their splendor.
In addition to this duet, next Monday (July 28th), the Gamma-Draconids Meteor Shower and the Piscis Austrinids Meteor Shower will peak, although with fewer meteors per hour. Nonetheless, they will still add brightness to the night sky.
The next major meteor shower will be the Perseids Meteor Shower in mid-August, marking the climax of summer stargazing.
(With reference to the Associated Press report)