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(meteorobs) End of July Meteor Showers
End of July Major Meteor Shower Activity
SOUTH DELTA AQUARIDS - This is another shower best seen from the
Southern Hemisphere, where the radiant lies high in the sky dur-
ing their long winter nights. This is the strongest radiant of
about 6 that are active in this region during July and August.
In late July the combined count of these radiants approaches 30
meteors per hour under dark skies. Like many streams that lie
close to the ecliptic, this one possesses a double radiant. The
southern branch provides a majority of the activity and reaches
maximum activity two weeks earlier than the northern branch. The
average meteor from this shower is dim and therefore difficult to
photograph...thus a 50mm lens with aperature wide open would be
best when photographing. Max: Jul 27/28 at 00hr UT; Hourly rates:
20; Vel. 41 km/s(Fast); Duration: July 12-Aug 19; Population Index:
3.2; Radiant Diameter: 5 degrees; Train Production: 6.3%; Radiant:
RA 22h36m, Dec -16; Three Letter Shower Code: SDA
NORTH DELTA AQUARIDS - This is the sister radiant for the S. Delta
Aquarids. Meteors from this branch are even dimmer than it's south-
erly counter-part. Max: Aug 8; Duration: Jul 15-Aug 25; Hourly
rates: 4; Vel. 42 km/s(Fast); Population Index: 3.4; Radiant Dia-
meter: 5 degrees; Train Production: 9.1%; Radiant: RA 22h20m,
Dec -5; Three Letter Shower Code: NDA
ALPHA CAPRICORNIDS - This is a long lasting shower active throughout
July and August. A broad maximum occurs during the last week of July
and the first week of August centered on July 30. This shower pro-
duces the slowest meteors of all major annual showers. Due to it's
southerly declination this shower is better placed for observers in
the Southern Hemisphere. This shower is noted for it's bright fire-
balls that often fragment during flight. The combination of slow,
bright meteors is ideal for photography but unfortunately rates are
low; A wide angle lens would be ideal to capture alpha Capricornids.
Max: Jul 29/30; Hourly rates: 4; Vel. 23 km/s(Slow). Duration: Jul 3-
aug 15; Population Index: 2.5; Radiant Diameter; 8 degrees; Train Pro-
duction: 2.2%; Radiant: RA 20h28m, Dec -10; Three Letter Shower
Code: CAP