The Southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower is expected to be observed on its best date from July 28 to 31, the state weather bureau said Monday.
According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) astronomical diary, the peak of the meteor shower will be observed before midnight and onwards from July 29 to 30.
“These are part of a complex of radiant in Aquarius, Capricornus, and Piscis Austrinus, all of which combine with sporadic and early Perseid activity to provide a nice display of meteors in the last week of the month,” PAGASA stated.
The stream normally produces about five to 10 meteors per hour with overall activity of about 15 meteors per hour under good sky conditions, PAGASA stated.
Meteors come from leftover comet particles and bits from broken asteroids, as explained by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
NASA stated that the pieces of space debris that interact with our atmosphere to create the Delta Aquariids are suspected to originate from comet 96P/Machholz. This short period comet orbits the sun about once every five years.
The Delta Aquarids are active beginning in mid-July and are visible until late-August.
A Delta Aquarid is coming from the direction of the constellation Aquarius, its radiant will be in the southern part of the sky.
NASA advised that if you are not able to view Delta Aquarids during their peak, “look for them again during the Perseids in August” which radiant is in the northern part of the sky.
