The summer is best known for the dazzling Perseid meteor shower, which is most active in August, but two lesser-known meteor showers will both reach their peak this week — and one of them is notable for producing bright fireballs.
The Alpha Capricornids meteor shower became active earlier this month and will continue generating some shooting stars though Aug. 15, but it peaks Wednesday night, July 28, into early Thursday morning, July 29, according to the American Meteor Society.
“This shower is not very strong and rarely produces in excess of five shower members per hour,” the AMS says. “What is notable about this shower is the number of bright fireballs produced during its activity period.”
The AMS says the Alpha Capricornids can be “seen equally well on either side of the equator,” so people in the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere can catch a glimpse of these meteors.
That’s not the case for the Southern Delta Aquariids, which the AMS says is “another strong shower best seen from the southern tropics.” For folks living in the northern hemisphere, “the radiant is located lower in the southern sky and therefore rates are less than seen from further south.”
If you miss out on the Alpha Capricornids or the Southern Delta Aquariids, you might be able to see a few Perseid meteors shooting across the night sky during the next two weeks. But your best bet is to wait until the night of Aug. 11, when the Perseids will be out in their biggest numbers.
In fact, Forbes.com says the 2021 Perseids meteor shower could be one of the best ones in years because “the moon will be just 13% illuminated and set well before the peak begins. The observing conditions are thus perfect … if the skies are clear.”
This map from AccuWeather shows the viewing conditions expected for two meteor showers that will be peaking Wednesday night, July 28, into early Thursday morning, July 29, 2021.AccuWeather
As for the two meteor showers that are peaking this week, AccuWeather says cloudy skies could get in the way of a good view in some parts of the United States, while other areas will have clear skies.
And AccuWeather says light from the July moon could make it tough to see some of the dimmer meteors. As a result, “the best time for meteor watching on Wednesday night will be before midnight local time, when the moon is set to rise.”
N.J. weather forecast
In the Newark area of New Jersey, the National Weather Service is calling for partly cloudy skies Wednesday night, with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 a.m.
In the Trenton area, the weather service is forecasting partly cloudy skies, with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m. Wednesday, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m.
In the Atlantic City area, the forecast calls for partly cloudy skies Wednesday night, with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.
"peak" - Google News
July 28, 2021 at 07:32PM
https://ift.tt/3zMG5Kq
2 meteor showers to peak this week, followed by Perseid meteors 2021 - NJ.com
"peak" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2KZvTqs
https://ift.tt/2Ywz40B
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "2 meteor showers to peak this week, followed by Perseid meteors 2021 - NJ.com"
Post a Comment