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If there’s one thing that’ll get Aussies braving the winter chill, it’s the allure of a rare celestial event. From magical meteor showers to unexpected auroras, we’ve had our fair share of cosmic wonders this year – and now, there’s a doubleheader set to grace our night skies at the end of this week.
In an extremely rare alignment, the Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids meteor showers are set to peak on the very same night in Australia. The catch? The peak falls just one day after the July full moon, meaning you'll have to compete with its strong lunar glow to spot the brightest shooting stars. Here’s when and how to see the rare double meteor shower in Australia this week.
When to see the Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids in Australia?
Late July is set to deliver a cosmic double act, with two meteor showers peaking in Australian skies on the very same night. The Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids will be most active between midnight on Thursday, July 30 and 4am AEST Friday, July 31.
What can you expect to see on the night?
At its absolute peak on July 30-31, the Delta Aquariids could produce up to a whopping 20 shooting stars per hour. Although fainter, the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower is famous for producing impressively bright fireballs, and you can expect to see two to five meteors per hour.
The catch? The peak comes just a day after July’s full moon, which will sit in the sky for most of the night, washing out fainter trails and leaving only the brightest meteors to shine through.
How to see the double meteor shower in Australia?
To witness this cosmic spectacle, it helps to have a little bit of astronomical know-how. The Southern Delta Aquariids appear to radiate from the constellation Aquarius, while the Alpha Capricornids originate from Capricornus. You can use a stargazing app like Stellarium or an online sky chart to find these constellations in your local sky. These tools can help you pinpoint the meteor radiants and plan the perfect viewing spot.
Associate Professor Devika Kamath from Macquarie University’s School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences explains, “In the early evening, the radiants (the points where meteors appear to originate) rise in the northeast. By midnight, they’re high in the northern sky, and by pre-dawn, they drift toward the northwest. Scanning this arc will maximise your chances of catching long, dramatic trails.”
She also recommends finding a spot away from the city lights and giving your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark. And considering we’re in the depths of winter, bring plenty of warm layers and blankets too!