Concurrent Meteor Showers to Thrill Stargazers This Week

Posted: July 27, 2021 12:57 pm

Two concurrent meteor showers are set to put on quite a show in the night skies on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning

Astronomical Double-Header on Tap

A rare twin meteor shower will light up the skies on the night of Wednesday, July 28, and into Thursday morning, July 29. The last meteor shower to show off was the Eta Aquarids that happened in early May. However, cloud cover across much of the eastern half and northern tier of the US prevented a great majority of people from catching the shower.

Details of This Event

The meteor showers happening this week are the Southern Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids. It is typical for these two showers to deliver approximately 15 to 20 meteors each hour of the event. However, a moon that will be about 75% full overnight on Wednesday will mute some of the meteors that do not shine as brightly.

In addition, a great number of the meteors that shoot across the sky as part of the Southern Delta Aquarids show will not be as visible as a result of the bright moon crawling above the horizon as the night goes on.

Best Viewing Opportunities

Although the Alpha Capricornids are only expected to deliver a few meteors per hour, those that appear will be bright and highly visible. Because these fireballs are so illuminating, they could last a few seconds every time they streak across the sky. This particular shower will be the strongest during the second half of the night. The meteors associated with this shower have a better chance of standing out against the moonlight when compared to the Southern Delta Aquarids.

Weather Conditions for the Show

The best part about a meteor shower in July is that the warmer temperatures generally provide a favorable viewing environment as long as you also have clear skies. Cloud cover is most likely throughout the eastern US on Wednesday night. The best visibility will be in the Tennessee Valley and stretching into the mid-Atlantic.

The central and western portions of the US will enjoy mostly clear conditions. However, smoke coming from the wildfires in the West could obscure some of the viewing opportunities.

The good news is that these meteors may be visible in some areas later in the week. Although the peak of both showers will be in the Wednesday overnight hours, stray fireballs may make an appearance over the next several days and possibly even into the weekend.

What is Next

This dual meteor show will be the appetizer of what is on tap in the skies a few weeks down the road. The most significant meteor shower of the year is the Perseid show, set to shine on the night of August 11 and into the morning hours of the 12th. During the Perseid shower, stargazers can expect to see as many as 100 meteors each hour.

Because a dimmer thin crescent moon will be in the sky for the Perseids, it will be much easier to spot these fireballs. If the Perseids are the main event for your summer stargazing plans, it is a good idea to use the upcoming Southern Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids as a practice to make sure that you have a good spot to view the show.

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