Sunday, July 28, 2024

Southern Delta-Aquariids Meteors Peak (overnight)

The annual Southern Delta-Aquariids meteor shower lasts from July 18 to August 21. In 2024 it will peak on Sunday evening, July 28 in the Americas, but it is quite active for a week surrounding the peak night. The best viewing time will run from late Sunday evening until the sky begins to brighten toward dawn, though the waning, 38%-illuminated crescent moon that rises around 12:30 a.m. local time will dampen the show. This shower, produced by debris dropped from periodic Comet 96P/Machholz, commonly generates 15-20 meteors per hour at the peak. It is best enjoyed from the southern tropics, where the shower's
radiant, in southern Aquarius, climbs higher in the sky.


Third Quarter Moon

The moon will complete three quarters of its orbit around Earth, measured from the previous new moon, on Sunday, July 28 at 02:52 UT, which converts to Saturday at 10:52 p.m. EDT or 7:52 p.m. PDT. At the third (or last) quarter phase the moon appears half-illuminated on its western, sunward side. It will rise around midnight local time, and then remain visible until it sets in the western daytime sky in early afternoon. Third quarter moons are positioned ahead of the Earth in our trip around the Sun. About 3 hours later, Earth
will occupy that same location in space. The week of dark, moonless evening skies that follow this phase are the best ones for observing deep sky targets.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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