The Delta Aquarid meteor shower makes an appearance over New Mexico in 2013.
Image Credit: Mike Lewinski via Flickr
July 27, 2015 - 1:00 PM
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - An annual meteor shower is set to put on a display this week and it looks like Mother Nature is going to cooperate with warm temperatures and clear skies this time around, but the full moon will likely put a damper on the show.
The Delta Aquarids meteor shower runs annually for about six weeks in the summer and produces an average of 20 meteors per hour at its peak. This year the peak is expected in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 30, but should be visible a few days before and after as well.
The shower is not a very prominent shower to begin with, but with a full moon expected Friday, July 31, only the brightest meteors will likely be visible. The meteor shower shows up as ‘shooting stars’ and can be seen anywhere in the sky, but the southern sky has the best view.
On Friday, July 31, a full moon will light up the sky and Venus and Jupiter will appear close in the western sky.
While the full moon will be visible from almost anywhere as it rises over the valleys, a dark location after midnight and into the early morning hours will be best for viewing the meteor shower.
Find a dark place away from city lights, lay back and let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Soon you will be able to see a multitude of stars and hopefully some ‘shooting stars’ as well.
Check out our tips if you plan to try your hand at some night sky photography.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015