JACKSON, Wyo. — Don’t forget to look skyward tonight, as two meteor showers are expected to reach their peaks.
The Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids meteor showers peak overnight between Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning, according to the American Meteor Society (AMS).
Samuel Singer, executive director of Wyoming Stargazing, wants skywatchers to keep their expectations realistic.
“These two ‘meteor showers’ are both little guys (what I call Meteor Trickles),” Singer told Buckrail via email. “Combining them together, we are still only talking about 20-30 meteors/hour (one every 2 minutes at best). On a typical night of stargazing any time throughout the year, we see probably about half that many.”
After the peak, both showers are expected to be active but winding down through about Aug. 12, according to AMS. Tonight might still be a good chance to see some shooting stars, as the moon is estimated to be about a quarter full and skies over Jackson are likely to be clear. Singer noted that the annual Perseids shower, which is expected to peak around Aug. 12 and Aug. 13, might be harder to see, as it will be coinciding with an almost-full moon.
“So, the next few days are definitely the best time for sky watchers to try to catch some meteors,” Singer said. “We’ve been seeing tons on our stargazing programs over the last several nights. Heading north into Grand Teton National Park and finding a pullout is an easy and fun option.”