Log Astronomy: Find your favorite patch of dark sky for the Delta Aquarids meteor shower!

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Meteor mania

Keep your eye on the sky for the peak of the annual Delta Aquarids meteor shower

With the Delta Aquarids set to peak around July 29th and the legendary Perseids on the horizon, meteor shower enthusiasts should be actively scouting out their favorite dark patch of sky.

Each year, the Delta Aquarid meteor shower serves as the warm-up act for the always anticipated August performance of the annual Perseids. At its peak, the Delta Aquarid shower produces 15-20 meteors per hour – a figure that pales in comparison to the average 80 meteors per hour that the Perseid shower can deliver during its peak.

With a radiant point in the Aquarius Constellation, the Delta Aquarids begin their annual amble across the sky in mid-July, bloom in late-July and fade out in the third week of August. They can be seen almost everywhere but favor observers in the Southern Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere's tropics region.

Maximize your meteor observing experience

To catch sight of a Delta Aquarid live, observers should actually look at a dark patch of sky about 90 degrees away from the radiant point to see the most meteors. The best viewing time is after midnight in the wee pre-dawn hours. To view the meteors, all you need is your naked eye, a good place to lie down under an open sky and patience.

Although you do not need an observing aid for meteors, consider bringing a pair of binoculars or a telescope to your chosen observing site to explore some of the night sky's other treasures while you wait for the meteor shower to amp up.

Two excellent options for viewing astronomical wonders like the Andromeda Galaxy, the Orion Nebula or the Pleiades star cluster are the Explore Scientific G600 ED Series 8x56 binocular and the G400 Series 10x50 binocular. For a limited time, you can save 20 percent on both of these options as part of our ongoing Nebraska Star Party Sale. Click below to learn more!