A stunning celestial event is upon us this July in the form of not one but two meteor showers. The extremely rare event will see the Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids meteor showers peaking on the same night so stargazers can spot a dazzling number of shooting stars in the sky. Better still, it’s set to be most visible over the southern hemisphere and some parts of the northern hemisphere that are close to the equator. Here’s everything you need to know about the remarkable double meteor shower event and the best places around Sydney you could see it from.
Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids double meteor showers
A meteor shower occurs when the Earth passes through the trail of debris left behind by a comet. According to NASA, around 30 meteor showers occur every year that are visible on Earth. With a double meteor shower on the horizon, the number of meteors that can be seen by the naked eye could increase dramatically in the right conditions.
When will the double meteor shower occur?
The Delta Aquariids shower which occurs annually will begin on July 18 until August 21 with up to 15 to 20 meteors visible in a dark sky whereas the Alpha Capricornids began on July 3 and will stretch until August 15 and adds another 5 shooting stars per hour to the display. Both these showers are set to peak in tandem on July 30.
How to watch the double meteor shower?
Like most celestial events, you’ll need the right weather conditions and a clear dark sky to enjoy the best of the double meteor showers. Timing is equally important as most meteor showers peak at pre-dawn hours. Set your eyes on constellations such as set their eyes on various constellations, namely, the Orion, Gemini, Perseus, Capricorn, and Aquarius. Find a location away from the light pollution caused by the city and give your eyes about 20-30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. You don’t need binoculars to see the shower.
Where can you see it in Sydney?
High-altitude locations provide the best viewing points for meteor showers. Luckily for us, Sydney is now home to Australia’s first Urban Night Sky Place so you can enjoy stunning views of the cosmos without venturing too far out.
If you’re keen to get an even better viewing experience and don’t mind the long drive out, the Warrumbungle National Park is known as one of the best places for stargazing in Sydney.
Read more about the rare event on Earth.com.