Night Sky to Put on a Double Meteor Shower Show
(NEWSnet/AP) — Get ready for a meteor shower doubleheader.
Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks in late July. This year, it will coincide with a second, smaller meteor shower, Alpha Capricornid.
Delta Aquariids occur in late summer each year in North America. The 2024 peak is expected early July 30, with an estimated 15 to 20 meteors visible per hour. The shower continues through Aug. 21, according to American Meteor Society.
Around the same time, Alpha Capricornid is expected to produce about five meteors per hour and will continue through Aug. 15.
Most meteor showers originate from the debris of comets. The source of Delta Aquariid is thought to be from the comet 96P/Machholz. Alpha Capricornid originates from the comet 169P/NEAT.
The two showers are not high-volume, but the Alpha Capricornids often produces extremely bright meteors, said University of Warwick astronomer Don Pollacco.
Meteor showers are usually most visible midnight to pre-dawn.
The next major meteor shower will be Perseid, peaking in mid-August.
NASA's tips for taking photographs during a meteor shower include using a tripod and a shutter release cable to avoid moving the camera/
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