See Southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower July/August 2008

William Atkins
Wednesday, 09 July 2008 20:30

Science - Space

There are two branches of the Delta Aquarids—the Southern branch and the Northern branch.

The Southern branch comes from mid-July to mid-August time frame (peaking at the end of July) and the Northern branch comes later each year, peaking around mid-August (but spanning a period from July 16th to September 10th). The Northern branch only produces, at its peak, about ten meteors per hour.

When gazing at the Southern Delta Aquarids, go outside in the early morning, just before dawn. Make sure you are away from any artificial lights so that you are in complete darkness.

For those of you living in the Southern Hemisphere, the meteors will appear coming from its radiant (origin) high in the night sky.

For people in the Northern Hemisphere, the meteors will appear to originate low in the sky, at just above the southern horizon, and spreading out in the northern, western, and eastern directions.

Further information, including pictures in the sky and a detailed history of the Delta Aquarids, is found at MeteorShowersOnline: “Delta Aquarids.”