Latest news with #Kantale
Forbes
a day ago
- Science
- Forbes
Two Meteor Showers Begin This Week — How To See Summer's ‘Shooting Stars'
After a few months without any notable meteor showers, two get underway this week. The Perseid and Delta Aquariid meteor showers begin on Thursday, July 17 and Friday, July 18, respectively, with dozens of shooting stars possible when they peak later this month and in August. A Delta Aquariid meteor is appearing over the Buddha statue in Kantale, Sri Lanka, on July 4, 2024. ... More (Photo by Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images The best-known and most popular annual meteor shower, the Perseids are active from July 17 through Aug. 23, peaking overnight on Aug 12-13. Active between July 18 and Aug. 12, the Southern delta Aquariids will peak overnight on July 28-29, just hours after a close conjunction between a crescent moon and Mars in the post-sunset night sky. Although there is a peak night when about 25 shooting stars per hour is expected, the Southern delta Aquariids have a broad peak, so heightened rates can be seen for three or four nights on either side of the peak night, according to the American Meteor Society. Southern delta Aquariids are known to be faint. The alpha Capricornids meteor shower is also currently live, having begun on July 12. It's a minor meteor shower with only about five shooting stars per hour during its peak night on July 29-30, though bright "fireballs" are common. About 50-75 meteors can be seen on the peak night of the Perseids, though in 2025 that will be reduced by about 75%, according to the American Meteor Society. A full moon on Aug. 9 means there will be a lot of moonlight in the night sky during the peak of the Perseids, making it advisable to view them in either late July or mid-August, when skies will be darker (and rates much lower). How Meteor Showers Are Named Meteor showers are named after the constellation or star they appear to emanate from. Astronomers call this the radiant point. If you see a shooting star and trace its trajectory back to the northeastern night sky, it 's likely a Perseid because that's where the constellation Perseus is found after dark during August, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern delta Aquariids get their name from the constellation Aquarius and the alpha Capricornids from the constellation Capricorn, which are both low in the southern sky after midnight. According to NASA, the best way to watch a meteor shower is to get out of the city to the darkest location you can, such as a Dark Sky Place. However, it's wise to check the weather forecast in advance because a clear sky is imperative. Observe somewhere with a clear view of as much of the night sky as possible, with extra layers to keep warm, as well as bug spray, snacks and drinks. Be patient, take a break every 30 minutes and avoid looking at a smartphone whose white light will kill your night vision. Further Reading Forbes NASA Spacecraft 'Touches Sun' For Final Time In Defining Moment For Humankind By Jamie Carter Forbes NASA Urges Public To Leave The City As Milky Way Appears — 15 Places To Go By Jamie Carter Forbes Get Ready For The Shortest Day Since Records Began As Earth Spins Faster By Jamie Carter
Forbes
4 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
See ‘Shooting Stars' Tonight As Two Meteor Showers Begin — Where To Look
A Delta Aquariid meteor is appearing over the Buddha statue in Kantale, Sri Lanka, on July 4, 2024. ... More (Photo by Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto via Getty Images) The first meteors from two overlapping showers — the Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids — will begin streaking across the sky this Sunday night, July 13, kicking off summer's meteor season. While their peak nights won't arrive until July 30, these twin displays will slowly build throughout the second half of July, making Sunday the first real chance to catch a shooting star after dark this summer since the Bootids meteor shower in late June. Where And When To Look For the best chance to see meteors, head outside after midnight and find a dark spot far from city lights. The meteors can appear anywhere. Both showers have their radiant points — where the meteors appear to come from in the night sky — in constellations (Aquarius and Capricorn) low in the south as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. That means that more meteors will likely be seen from the Southern Hemisphere and lower northern latitudes. However, both the Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids will still be visible from most of the U.S. and Europe under clear, dark skies. Since there was a full moon a few nights ago, lingering moonlight will make it tricky to see shooting stars — so it's wise to wait until later in the week when the moon wanes and skies darken. What You'll See The Delta Aquariids are known for producing faint, medium-speed meteors that tend to leave persistent trails. They're steady rather than dramatic, with typical rates of 10-20 meteors per hour during peak. The Alpha Capricornids are even slower, with fewer meteors per hour, but they often produce bright fireballs — sudden, brilliant bursts that can be surprisingly vivid. They won't 'light up the night sky,' as many who've never been stargazing like to write, but they will provide an excellent add-on to late-night stargazing. Observing Tips No special equipment is needed — just patience and a dark, open and clear sky. Look up and let your eyes adjust to the darkness for at least 20 minutes before forming any opinion on whether it's worth continuing. Meteors can appear in any part of the sky, so a reclining chair or blanket can help you scan a wide area comfortably. What's Next in the Night Sky These twin showers reach their peak on July 30, blending into the early activity of the more famous Perseid meteor showers, which appear later in July. The peak of the Perseids on Aug. 11-12 will be marred by a full moon, meaning the Delta Aquarid and the Alpha Capricornid meteor showers are likely to be summer's most meaningful. For exact timings, use a sunrise and sunset calculator for where you are, Stellarium Web for a sky chart and Night Sky Tonight: Visible Planets at Your Location for positions and rise/set times for planets. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
