By Heather Durham | June 29, 2024
As we gaze up at the warm summer night sky in late July, we’re in for a celestial treat, my fellow stargazers! The Delta Aquarids meteor shower will reach its peak on the nights of July 28 and 29, offering us a spectacular display of cosmic fireworks. While this shower typically produces up to 20 meteors per hour, patient observers might catch even more under ideal conditions. The Delta Aquarids, born from the debris of comets Marsden and Kracht, will appear to radiate from the constellation Aquarius. However, these “shooting stars” can streak across any part of the sky, so don’t limit your field of view. Let’s gather under the stars, share our wonder, and witness this beautiful reminder of our place in the vast universe.
Now, let’s explore the other astronomical events for New England in July 2024, in chronological order:
July 5: New Moon. Perfect opportunity for observing faint deep-sky objects without lunar interference.
July 15-16: Mars and Uranus in conjunction, visible in the pre-dawn sky. A rare chance to spot distant Uranus near the red planet.
July 21: Full Moon, also known as the Buck Moon. Enjoy the bright, fully illuminated lunar disk lighting up the summer night.
July 22: Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. Best evening visibility for the elusive innermost planet, low in the western sky after sunset.
July 28-29: Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower peak. Up to 20 meteors per hour visible under dark skies after midnight.
July 30: Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, and crescent Moon form a beautiful grouping in Taurus. A stunning planetary alignment visible in the pre-dawn sky.
References:
Sea and Sky. (2024). Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2024. Retrieved from www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2024.html
Sky at Night Magazine. (2024). Visible planets in the night sky tonight, 2024. Retrieved from www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/astronomy-guide-viewing-planets-night-sky
KOA Camping Blog. (2024). Make Plans for These Celestial Events in 2024. Retrieved from koa.com/blog/celestial-events/
Milton Observer 