So far this summer has been filled with exciting heavenly events and rocket launches. Most recently, we’ve seen Comet Neowise light up the night sky, and this week, we’ll have two opportunities to spot shooting stars before the launch of the Mars Perseverance rover, slated for July 30. The Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower and the Alpha Capricornids The Meteor Shower will peak this week, giving star gazers the opportunity to view multiple meteors per hour. Here is everything you need to know to witness these incredible heavenly views.
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Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids will peak this week – this is what you need to know.
Related: More space travel and astronomy news
What is the Delta Aquariids meteor shower?
The Delta Aquariids meteor shower is an annual celestial event that generally occurs from mid-July to mid-August. Although astronomers are unsure, they believe the meteor shower comes from Comet 96P / Machholz. Delta Aquariids get their name from the constellation Aquarius because their radiant, the point from which meteorites appear to originate, is close to the star Delta Aquarii.
When is the 2020 Delta Aquariids meteor shower?
The Delta Aquariids meteor shower occurs from July 12 to August 23, and will peak this Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at approximately 20 meteors per hour. According to NASA, this meteor shower is best viewed from the southern hemisphere, but you may still be able to see some shooting stars if you go somewhere with little light pollution.
What is Alpha Capricornids Meteor Shower?
Alpha Capricornids meteor shower typically occurs from mid-July to mid-August as a result of dust from Comet 169P / NEAT.
Related: All the meteor showers, astronaut launches and celestial events that will happen this August
When is the 2020 Alpha Capricornids meteor shower?
According to the American Meteorite Society, Capricorn Alphas are active from July 2 to August 10, and will peak from July 25 to 30, with approximately three meteors visible per hour. This shower can be seen from the northern and southern hemispheres, so get out there and look up. Although this may not seem like a lot of meteorites, this rain is known to sometimes have fireballs, so it’s worth looking at the stars this week.
When is the next meteor shower in 2020?
The Perseid meteor shower, considered one of the best annual showers, is only a couple of weeks away, peaking on August 12. Additionally, the Mars Perseverance rover will also launch this week – you can view the launch online at the NASA website.
Video: Historic NASA / SpaceX launch delayed due to weather (FOX News)
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