Look To The Sky; The Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower Is Underway

ESSEX, CHESTER, DEEP RIVER, CT —Get ready for what many are calling, "The Best Meteor Shower of The Year."

The Delta Aquariid meteor shower is underway, with the peak expected on July 29th. The Delta Aquariids, is often referred to as a dress rehearsal for summer's main shooting star event, the abundant Perseid meteor shower.

According to an article written by Patch staffer Vincent Salzo, the Delta Aquariids reliably produce meteors for a couple of days on either side of the peak date and will continue to fire through Aug. 23, intersecting with the Perseids, often regarded as the best meteor shower of the year.

The 2021 Delta Aquariids could be a disappointment, though. Harsh light from a waning gibbous moon will likely wash out a good number of the meteors, which are faint to begin with because the shower favors the Southern Hemisphere, according to Earthsky.org.

Salzo's article reports that to view the Delta Aquariids, it's best to head outside between midnight and dawn. That bright moon will wane in the first week of August. The Perseid meteor shower, which runs through Aug. 24, will be well underway by that point. Viewing conditions should be ideal for the Aug. 11-12 peak.

"So, is the shooting star a Delta Aquariid or a Perseid?" Salzo's article asks.

To distinguish a Delta Aquariid from a Perseid meteor, the former appear to fly from the south and the Perseids from the north-northeast, writes Salzo.

NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke told Space.com that 2021 should be a stellar year for the Perseids, which are known for bright, persistent trains. If skies are clear, skywatchers should be able to see approximately 100 shooting stars per hour, Cooke said, though he explained that in more typical conditions, people should be able to see one meteor every minute.

Some tips for getting started:

• Get as far away from city lights as possible.
• Give your eyes about 30-45 minutes to adapt to the darkness.
• Take in as much of the sky as possible; take along a reclining lawn chair or a blanket and lie flat on your back.
• It can be helpful to find the radiant point (for the Perseids, that's the prominent constellation of Perseus; for the Delta Aquariids, it's the constellation Aquarius the Water Bearer). But avoid staring directly at it. The longer streaks are visible farther away from the radiant point.

With reporting from Vincent Salzo.