Summer Meteor Showers

From news-press.com

One celestial event sky watchers don't want binoculars for is a meteor shower — you need a wide field of view to scan the area of the shower.

A minor shower, the Southern Delta Aquarids, runs from July 12 until Aug. 19, with the peak of 15 to 20 meteors on July 28. Look to the southeast, toward the constellation Aquarius, after 2 a.m.

"I've seen them a couple of times when there were 30 an hour," said Norman McLeod of Fort Myers, who has been keeping records of meteor showers since 1960. "The problem with the Deltas is they're the faintest of all showers, and there's not a stinking chance of seeing anything near town: The lights kill them."

More dramatic and better known are the Perseids, visible from July 17 until mid-August, with peak activity of 50 to 150 meteors per hour on Aug. 12 or 13.

Unfortunately, an almost full moon on those days will blot out all but the brightest meteors.

Best viewing will be after 1 a.m. when meteors will appear to be coming from the constellation Perseus in the northeast.

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