Every year, two meteor showers – the famous Perseids and the lesser known Delta Aquariids – converge in late summer. Here’s all you need to know to catch a falling star!
Where Do Meteors Come From?
According to NASA, meteors come from leftover comet particles and bits from broken asteroids. When comets orbit the Sun, the dust they emit gradually spreads into a dusty trail around their orbits. Every year the Earth passes through these debris trails, which allows the bits to collide with our atmosphere where they disintegrate to create fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.
The Comet
The pieces of space debris that interact with our atmosphere to create the Southern Delta Aquariids are suspected to originate from comet 96P/Machholz. This short-period comet orbits the Sun about once every five years.
Comet Machholz was discovered by Donald Machholz in 1986. Comet Machholz’s nucleus is about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) across (a little more than half the size of the object hypothesized to have led to the demise of the dinosaurs).
The Radiant
Their radiant – the point in the sky from which the Southern Delta Aquariids appear to come – is the constellation Aquarius. The third brightest star within this constellation is called Delta. This star and the constellation are also where we get the name for the shower: Southern Delta Aquariids.
Note: The constellation for which a meteor shower is named only serves to aid viewers in determining which shower they are viewing on a given night. The constellation is not the source of the meteors. The name of a star (Delta) is part of this shower’s name in order to help distinguish it from another meteor shower, the Eta Aquariids, which peak in May.
Predicted Peak
According to EarthSky, although the Delta Aquariids can be seen from July 18 through August 21, mid-evening to dawn, this year the peak is expected between the night of July 28 through July 30. It rambles along steadily from until August, when it joins forces with the Perseids.
The Moon Cooperates this Year
Sometimes a full moon makes viewing a meteor shower difficult, if not impossible. But in 2025, it’s a 1st quarter crescent moon that will be in the skies. So, take advantage of the moon-free evenings and clear night skies after midnight (around 2:00am is ideal) for watching the Delta Aquariids (and the early Perseids).
How Many Meteors Can We Ideally See?
The Delta Aquariids’ maximum hourly rate can reach 15 to 20 meteors in a dark sky with no moon. As a result, you’ll typically see plenty of Delta Aquariids at the end of July, and mixed in with the Perseids, if you’re watching in early August.
Viewing Tips
According to NASA, the Southern Delta Aquariids are best viewed in the Southern Hemisphere and southern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Find an area well away from city or street lights. Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair. Lie flat on your back and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. Looking halfway between the horizon and the zenith, and 45 degrees from the constellation of Aquarius will improve your chances of viewing the Southern Delta Aquariids.
If you are unable to view the Southern Delta Aquariids during their peak, look for them again during the Perseids in August: You will know that you have spotted a Southern Delta Aquarid if the meteor is coming from the direction of the constellation Aquarius – its radiant will be in the southern part of the sky. The Perseid radiant is in the northern part of the sky.
In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient – the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.
—
Photo Credit: davidhoffmann photography / Shutterstock.com