Southern Delta Aquariids
Also called: Delta Aquariids, July meteors
A long-lasting summer shower with faint meteors that overlaps the early Perseids, best in a dark sky after midnight.
- Type
- Meteor Showers
- Best season
- Summer
- Gear
- Naked eye
- When to look
- Peak around July 30; active from mid-July to late August
- Typical rate
- About 20–25 an hour from a dark site
- Source
- Probably comet 96P/Machholz
- Radiant
- Near Aquarius, in the southern sky
- Best for
- Southern states, after midnight under dark skies
What you will see
- Mostly faint, medium-speed meteors.
- A gentle show that does better under dark skies than in town.
- Early Perseids appearing alongside them.
How to watch
- Get away from city lights to a dark site with a wide view of the sky, and lie back in a reclining chair or on a pad.
- Let your eyes adapt to the dark for 20 to 30 minutes and keep white light and phone screens off.
- Look at the whole sky rather than staring at one spot, since meteors can appear anywhere.
- Pick a night near the new Moon so faint meteors stay visible.
- Face south and look up, but watch the whole sky.
Constellations to know
Field notes
The Delta Aquariids are an easy shower to overlook, but they give a steady trickle of meteors on warm summer nights. They are best from the southern states.
Related guides
Dates and times repeat from year to year but shift slightly, and the Moon's phase and the planets' positions are different every year. Check a current source such as NASA, the American Meteor Society, or a stargazing app before you plan a night out, and check the weather forecast for clear skies.