Get ready to see a double meteor shower featuring the Perseids, one of the biggest and brightest meteor showers of the year. In addition to the Perseids, the Southern Delta Aquarids will also remain active in August as the Perseids peak, creating a double meteor shower that people in the Northern Hemisphere can enjoy in all its splendor. (It may be difficult, if not impossible, for people in the Southern Hemisphere to see the Perseids and double shower, although the Southern Delta Aquarids will be more visible in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere.) Here’s all the information you need to see this amazing meteor shower.
How to observe meteor showers
To see the most meteors, you should be observing in a clear, dark sky, away from any light sources. Moonlight can wash out the light of the meteors, so viewing is best when there is little or no moonlight.
If you need a little light to see where you’re going, use a red light instead of a white light. Unlike red light, white light interferes with night vision and your ability to see objects in the dark, including meteors. With a red light, you don’t have to wait for your vision to readjust to the darkness.
You don’t need any special equipment like binoculars or a telescope. Observing a meteor shower is actually best done with the naked eye, because you need to observe the entire sky to see as many meteors as possible. Telescopes and binoculars are not suitable for observing meteor showers because their field of view is limited and the meteors move too quickly to be spotted by the lenses of the instruments.
The meteor shower is Shineor the constellation from which meteors appear to radiate. (Apps like Stellarium and SkyView can help you find these.) You don’t have to look directly at the radiant point to see a meteor shower, but you do need to make sure it’s above the horizon, which usually happens around midnight or after.
You will be able to see the most meteors when the radiant point is highest in the sky, but this is not necessary to enjoy the meteor shower.
South Delta Aquarids
The Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower emits about 15 to 20 meteors per hour, and although these meteors are not as bright as the Perseids, this meteor shower is still an awe-inspiring event that you don’t want to miss.
The Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower is active from July 18 to August 21. Unlike many meteor showers, the Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower doesn’t have a sudden peak. In other words, the number of meteors increases steadily while the shower is active. This means that you can see the Southern Delta Aquarids during the peak of the Perseids meteor shower in mid-August.
Luckily, moonlight won’t be an issue in the first half of August. By the time the Perseid meteor shower peaks on the night of August 11-12, the Moon will go from a waning quarter (12% full), to a new moon (0% full), to a first quarter (35% full), and finally a first quarter (44% full). However, from early August until around August 14, the Moon will set before or just after midnight local daylight time, providing the best viewing conditions.
