Stargazers are in for a treat as Earth’s orbit intersects with those of two comets, creating a spectacular “double” meteor shower. The Alpha Capricornids and the Southern Delta Aquariids will both peak next week, offering a rare skywatching event.
Nicholas Moskovitz, a planetary astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Arizona, described the timing of this twin event as “just an amazing coincidence.” Meteor showers occur when Earth’s orbit intersects a comet’s path, causing rocky debris to burn up in the atmosphere. This month, Earth will cross the orbits of comet 96P/Machholz, causing the Southern Delta Aquariids peak on July 29-30, and comet 169P/NEAT, causing the Alpha Capricornids peak on July 30-31.
Moskovitz noted that it’s “a little bit unusual” for two meteor showers to peak within 24 hours of each other, but multiple showers in a single night aren’t uncommon. With over 900 meteor showers each year, an average of two to three showers occur per night. However, most are minor and not as dramatic as major showers like the Perseids or Geminids.
Meteor showers happen at regular intervals due to their predictable orbits around the sun, with annual variation in intensity based on when comets release debris. Predicting these showers is crucial for the safety of spacecraft and astronauts. Moskovitz leads the Lowell Observatory Cameras for All-Sky Meteor Surveillance (LO-CAMS), a network monitoring meteors.
The Southern Delta Aquariids will peak with around 20 to 25 meteors per hour. These meteors are faint, so a dark site away from city lights is essential for the best viewing. The Alpha Capricornids, although less frequent, often produce bright fireballs with larger meteor chunks, making for a more spectacular display.
The double meteor shower is best viewed in the Southern Hemisphere, where the radiant point will be almost overhead. In the Northern Hemisphere, a clear view of the southern horizon is necessary.
Moskovitz advises that the best time to catch the meteor showers is between 2 and 4 a.m. “Get to a dark site after midnight for the best chances of seeing meteors,” he said.
