3 Meteor Showers Combine Over IL Skies As 'Fireball Season' Peaks

ILLINOIS — Summer meteor showers are in full swing over Illinois skies, with the Southern Delta Aquariids peak occurring this weekend as chances remain good to see fireballs associated with the ongoing Alpha Capricornid and Perseid meteor showers, according to the American Meteor Society, which took more than 500 reports of fireballs from three states earlier this week.

The Delta Aquariids, which peak Friday and Saturday, should remain visible through Aug. 21. The shower favors the Southern Hemisphere, but patient skywatchers should be able to see a handful of meteors — about 20 an hour, according to NASA.

Keep in mind the moon will be 1 percent full, making for ideal viewing conditions, assuming local weather conditions are favorable. AccuWeather is calling for mainly clear skies Friday night, despite the possibility of showers, with more clear skies Saturday and Sunday before possible storms on Monday.

Most of the reports of fireballs were from Texas, but the nonprofit American Meteor Society said it also received took reports from Oklahoma and Louisiana as well. A fireball is a bright, often softball-sized meteor that enters Earth’s atmosphere at an extreme velocity, the organization said. Most meteors are about the size of a pebble when they enter Earth’s atmosphere.

Last weekend, the group took 150 reports of brilliant fireballs were seen over Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky and northern Alabama.

Related: 2022 Guide To Meteor Showers, Supermoons, Other Celestial Events

The fireballs were likely produced by the Alpha Capricornid meteor shower, which reaches a “plateau-like” peak Saturday and Sunday and remains active through Aug. 15, according to the AMS. It’s the sleeper show of the year, producing only about five meteors an hour at the peak, but known for its fireballs.

Could there be more?

Like the Alpha Capricornids, the Perseids are known for their fireballs, which are “larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak,” NASA said, explaining, “This is due to the fact that fireballs originate from larger particles of cometary material.”

The Alpha Capricornids are still active, and the Perseid meteor shower, also known for fireballs, is building toward an Aug. 11-13 peak, about 50 to 100 meteors an hour at the peak, according to NASA.

The Perseids will have competition from August’s full sturgeon supermoon at the peak, but they’re so prolific and bright that they should still put on a good show.

The Perseid meteor shower remains active through August.

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The shower is called the Perseids because its radiant point is located near the prominent constellation of Perseus the hero.