The Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower in July

by EraOfLight

The Delta Aquarid meteor shower in July favors the Southern Hemisphere and tropical latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. The meteors appear to radiate from near the star Skat or Delta in the constellation Aquarius the Water Bearer. The maximum hourly rate can reach 15-20 meteors in a dark sky. The Delta Aquarid meteor shower in July favors the Southern Hemisphere and tropical latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. The meteors appear to radiate from near the star Skat or Delta in the constellation Aquarius the Water Bearer. The maximum hourly rate can reach 15-20 meteors in a dark sky.
The nominal peak is around July 29-30, but, unlike many meteor showers, the Delta Aquarids lack a very definite peak. Instead, these medium-speed meteors ramble along fairly steadily throughout late July and early August. An hour or two before dawn usually presents the most favorable view of the Delta Aquarids, assuming the moon is out of the way.
The Delta Aquarid runs for about six weeks but will be most visible this week on Thursday, July 27 and Friday, July 28. The moon will set before midnight and the best viewing times are between 2am and 3am on both days.
At the shower’s peak in late July 2018, the rather faint Delta Aquariid meteors will have to contend with moonlight, as the full moon will be out all night long. But the new moon on August 11 means a dark sky for the August Perseids, one of the best showers for the Northern Hemisphere, and some Delta Aquarids will surely still be flying then.


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