Everything you should know about the Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower

The annual Southern Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower is set to reach its peak this week on 29-30 July. During this period, Earth will pass through a stream of dust and debris left behind by the Comet 96P/Machholz Complex, producing the bright streaks of light commonly known as “shooting stars”.

In Singapore, the meteor shower is best observed from after midnight until just before dawn, when the radiant in Aquarius is highest above the horizon. Under favourable weather conditions, it can be viewed with the naked eye from locations with minimal artificial lighting and an unobstructed view of the sky.

Meteor Shower - Pixabay Image credit: Pixabay

In anticipation of this phenomenon, Science Centre Observatory has put some FAQs, to address various questions on the phenomenon and share more about its origins.

1. What are meteors and where do they come from?

Meteors are rocks that enter Earth’s atmosphere at speeds that cause the gases around them to glow and burn up. These are the streaks of light that one may see going across the sky in a matter of seconds. They are also often referred to as “shooting stars”.

Meteors are within our solar system. They can originate from various sources – such as comets, asteroids, and other planets.

2. What is the difference between a meteor, a meteorite, and a meteoroid?

When a part of an asteroid breaks off and it is still in space, it becomes a meteoroid. When the meteoroid is in Earth’s atmosphere, it becomes a meteor.

If a part of the meteor survives its journey through the Earth’s atmosphere and lands on the Earth’s surface, it is called a meteorite.

3. What is a meteor shower and how often do they occur?

A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate, or come from, from one point in the night sky. Meteor showers are formed when the Earth travels through a cloud of interplanetary debris left behind from the tail of a comet or asteroid that has thrown out large amounts of materials.

While the Earth orbits the Sun and crosses into these dust streams or debris trails, the materials collide into Earth’s atmosphere and burn up, leaving a streak in the sky which is what we see as meteors.

Earth goes through these dust streaks every year, so we can predict when these meteor showers happen on an annual basis.

meteor shower shooting stars unsplash Image credit: Unsplash

Southern Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower taking place 29 – 30 July

1. What is the celestial event happening on 30 July?

The Southern Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower is an annual meteor shower that is active from mid-July to mid-August, with peak activity occurring around 29-30 July each year.

During the peak, Earth passes through a stream of dust and debris left behind by Comet 96P/Machholz Complex. As these tiny particles enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds, they burn up due to friction with the air, producing the bright streaks of light commonly known as “shooting stars”.

Under dark skies and ideal viewing conditions, observers may see up to 25 meteors per hour. Actual numbers in Singapore are usually lower due to light pollution and weather conditions. In addition, the shower’s peak coincides with a full moon on 29 July, which may result in fewer meteors being observable throughout the night due to the brightness of the moon.

2. How did the Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower get its name?

Meteor showers are named after the constellation from which the meteors appear to originate, known as the radiant. The Delta Aquariids appear to radiate from the constellation Aquarius, near its star Delta Aquarii, hence the name “Delta Aquarids.”

In reality, the meteors are not coming from the constellation itself; they simply appear to trace back to that point in the sky because of perspective.

3. What time will the Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower be visible in Singapore?

In Singapore, the Delta Aquariids are best observed after midnight until just before dawn, when the radiant in Aquarius is highest above the horizon. The most favourable viewing window is generally between 2:00 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., provided skies are clear. No special equipment is required. Simply allow your eyes about 20–30 minutes to adjust to the darkness for the best chance of spotting meteors.

4. How often do meteor showers occur?

Meteor showers are formed every year when the Earth travels through a cloud of interplanetary debris left behind from the tail of a comet or asteroid that has thrown out large amounts of materials. The denser the debris clouds are, the more materials will fall on Earth, thus giving us more meteors. Meteors are made of bits of rocks and ice ejected from comets or asteroids.

5. What are the best places to view the Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower?

The best viewing locations are areas with minimal artificial lighting and an unobstructed view of the sky. In Singapore, suitable locations include parks, beaches and reservoirs that are away from city lights, such as East Coast Park, Changi Beach Park, West Coast Park, Marina Barrage or the Southern Ridges. Regardless of location, viewers should avoid looking at bright screens before observing and allow their eyes time to adapt to the dark.

6. Can the meteor shower be viewed with the naked eye?

Yes. Meteor showers are best viewed with the naked eye, as telescopes and binoculars have a limited field of view and may cause observers to miss meteors streaking across different parts of the sky. Simply find a dark location, look broadly across the sky rather than directly at Aquarius, and be patient.

7. When is the next time we will be able to see a meteor shower in Singapore?

Following the Delta Aquarids, the next major annual meteor shower visible from Singapore is the Perseid Meteor Shower, which is active from mid-July to late August and typically peaks around 12–13 August. While the Perseids are best known in the Northern Hemisphere, observers in Singapore may still catch some meteors under favourable weather and dark-sky conditions.

Learn more about these sessions here.

Contributed by Science Centre Observatory.

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