Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower 2013: When, How and Where to Watch

The Delta Aquarids meteor shower is happening this weekend. It can be seen across the planet and sky watchers in the southern hemisphere and northern tropics are expected to have an especially good view. The best time to catch the meteor shower is between midnight and dawn. The Delta Aquarids will be visible from 27-29 July.

This shower is usually active from about 12 July to 23 August each year. It also tends to overlap with the Perseid meteor shower in August. Sometimes both of the showers are visible in the same night.

"The stream normally produces about 5-10 meteors/hour with overall activity of about 15 meteors/hour under good sky conditions. All of [these] combine with sporadic and early Perseid activity to provide a nice display of meteors on moonless mornings in late July," the astronomical diary issued by Pagasa officer-in-charge Vicente Malano said.

Pagasa also added that besides the meteor showers, another visual treat is available to stargazers throughout July.

"Stargazers will be having a nice time watching the night sky with the famous Summer Triangle of the stars Vega, Deneb and Altair of the constellations Lyra, Aquila and Cygnus, respectively, being well placed in the eastern horizon before midnight," it stated.

This year, however, moonlight might play spoilsport as it might overpower the predawn meteors. However, the last quarter of the moon falls on 29 July and after that there can be a clear view of the Delta Aquarids.

How to watch Delta Aquarids meteor shower.

• Find an area 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(In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors)
• Look halfway between the horizon and the zenith, and 45 degrees from the constellation of Aquarius. It will improve your chances of viewing the Delta Aquarids.