Two meteor showers are set to illuminate the night sky over the southern United States this week as they peak within days of each other.
The Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower will reach its peak tonight, July 29, followed by the Alpha Capricornids tomorrow, July 30.
The Southern Delta Aquariids will appear to originate near the constellation Aquarius, while the Alpha Capricornids will seem to come from the constellation Capricornus.
According to Newsweek, the meteors can be seen anywhere in the night sky over the U.S.
The Southern Delta Aquariids are best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere but can also be seen from lower latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.
In contrast, the Alpha Capricornids are visible from both hemispheres. Southern states will therefore have the best view of both showers.
"The Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids are two meteor showers that peak on the nights of the 29th and 30th of July respectively," said Gregory Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich in the U.K.
The Alpha Capricornids will remain visible until around August 15 this year, while the Delta Aquariids will continue until August 21. The famous Perseids meteor shower will peak on August 12, overlapping with these two showers.
What Are Meteor Showers?
Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the debris trail left behind by a comet. As the comet travels through space, it sheds tiny pieces of rock and dust. When Earth moves through this debris field, these particles enter our atmosphere at high speeds, burn up, and create bright streaks of light in the sky.
"If it just so happens that the Earth runs through one of these streams of dust and debris laid down by a comet, we get a meteor shower. The dust crashes into our atmosphere and ablates about 80 kilometers (50 miles) above the ground, visible from the ground as a meteor (or 'shooting star')," explained Jonti Horner, an astrophysics professor at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia.
What Are the Southern Delta Aquariids?
The exact comet responsible for the Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower is uncertain, but astronomers highly suspect Comet 96P/Machholz.
This shower occurs annually around the same time each year and usually results in up to around 25 meteors per hour.
What Are the Alpha Capricornids?
The Alpha Capricornids meteor shower is caused by the trail of dust and ice left behind by the comet 169P/NEAT.
This shower typically produces fewer meteors per hour than the Southern Delta Aquariids, with around 5 per hour, but these meteors are often brighter and can produce impressive fireballs that are slow-moving and can leave persistent trails.
How to Watch These Meteor Showers
To get the best viewing experience, find a location away from light pollution where the sky is as dark as possible. Ensure the weather forecast predicts clear skies for the night, as clouds can obstruct your view. Allow your eyes about 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness, and avoid looking at your phone or any bright lights.
The light from the moon can be a significant issue when trying to view meteor showers.
Fortunately, the moon will be about 20 to 30 percent full on the nights of these showers' peaks and will rise after midnight, making the best time to spot the showers between midnight and moonrise.
"As with most meteor showers, the best time to see them is in the early hours of the morning, just after midnight, though lower rates can be seen throughout the night. Try and find somewhere with limited light pollution from cities and ideally a low horizon. There's no need for a telescope or binoculars here; in fact, it's a bad idea to use them," advised Gregory Brown.
