Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight

The Delta Aquarid meteor shower is supposed to peak between July 28 and 29, though the waxing moon could dampen the spectacular light show.

The Epoch Times reports that a typical Delta Aquarid show can feature about 15 to 20 meteors per hour at the maximum hourly rate, and the best time to watch is usually about one to two hours before dawn, but that onlookers will be searching for small, yellowish streaks in the southeast after midnight local time.

Those who are viewing the meteor shower at tropical latitudes will have the best viewpoint for seeing the meteors, because of where the radiant lies near the Delta Aquarius star in the Aquarius constellation.

According to National Geographic, the Delta Aquarid meteors are a result of the Earth slamming into clouds of tiny particles that have been shed by an orbiting comet. They are deposited along the comet’s entire path and form clumps and streams through which the Earth passes each year.

While the identity of the Delta Aquarid meteor shower’s parent comet remain a mystery, some experts think it could be from 96P/Machholz, which was discovered in 1986 by an amateur astronomer. The icy comet just so happens to be in the area now as well, and passed by Earth this week at a distance of 85.7 million miles.

Of course, this meteor shower is simply a pre-game show to pump up excitement for the Perseids meteor shower, which is the biggest and best of the year, and will be peaking in a couple of weeks.

Are you planning to catch a glimpse of the Delta Aquarid meteor shower tonight?

Check out the video below to see last year’s Delta Aquarid meteor shower:

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