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Watch Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower Saturday, 15 Meteors Visible in the Night Sky

Viewers should be able to observe 15 "shooting stars" hourly during Saturday-Sunday's July 2013 Meteor Shower.

No telescopes are required for the Delta Aquarids meteor shower taking place Saturday night, July 27, into Sunday morning. Stargazers may see upward of 15 Meteors per hour.

The Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower will produce streaks of light visible to those in the Southern Hemisphere and tropical northern latitudes.

According to Astronomy.com, during the Delta Aquarids’ peak, the moon — a barely waning crescent — rises around midnight and will wash out some of the dimmer “shooting stars.

In fact, NASA says the Delta Aquarids will be nearly impossible to see this year during their peak because of the moon; However, you may still be able to catch a few of these meteors while viewing the Perseids in August.

Meteors appear because fast-moving dust collides with the Earth’s atmosphere. The friction between the two causes the dust to vaporize and leave a trail of light in the sky. Meteor showers are in indication Earth’s orbit is traveling through a comet’s debris stream.

The shower is expected to be visible between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. NASA is running a live chat during the shower.Want to more about the meteor shower? Check out this fact list on Earthsky.org.

Here are NASA's tips to watch the meteor shower in the night sky:

  • Find an area well 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.
  • Looking halfway between the horizon and the zenith, and 45 degrees from the constellation of Aquarius will improve your chances of viewing the Delta Aquarids.
  • In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors.
  • Be patient -- the show will last until sunrise










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