South Delta Aquarid or Perseids?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter pete5383
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Delta
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the visibility and optimal viewing conditions for the South Delta Aquarid and Perseid meteor showers, including considerations of moon interference and timing for observation. Participants share their experiences and seek advice on which meteor shower would be better to observe.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about which meteor shower to observe, asking whether the South Delta Aquarids or the Perseids would provide a better viewing experience.
  • Another participant notes that the Perseids are generally considered the most visible meteor shower but acknowledges that moonlight could hinder visibility.
  • A suggestion is made to use a specific website to check sky conditions and moon position, which could help in planning the observation.
  • The original poster seeks clarification on how to determine the moon's position in the sky and the relevant units of measurement used in astronomy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on which meteor shower is definitively better to observe, as opinions vary regarding the impact of moonlight on the Perseids. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best choice for viewing.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the original poster's understanding of astronomy terminology and concepts, which may affect their ability to evaluate the advice given. The discussion also reflects a dependency on external resources for accurate sky observation.

Who May Find This Useful

Astronomy enthusiasts, casual observers of meteor showers, and individuals seeking guidance on optimal viewing conditions for celestial events may find this discussion helpful.

pete5383
Messages
85
Reaction score
0
Hey everyone. First off, I'm not very knowledgeable on astronomy, so forgive me if I say something that sounds dumb (I found this board because I'm an electrical engineer).

So I've heard that there is a meteor shower, south delta aquarid shower, that is going to peak in a week or so (July 28th I think), and I've also heard there's a better shower, Perseids, peaking on August 13th. I'd like to spend the night watching one of these showers, and I was wondering which would be the better to see? Someone told me that Perseids won't be as good because of the moon interference. Anyone have any advice on which will be the better show? Also, will the Perseids be good at like 11:00 PM (Central Time) on August 12th, or is the peak pretty narrow?

Also, this next question might be a little in depth, because I know almost no astronomy lingo, but is there any way to tell where in the sky the moon will be at a specific time (so I could tell how much interference there will be)? I guess I really don't even know what units are used to measure where something is in the sky (radians away from something, degree...something else I've never heard of)

Anyways, I guess what I really need to know is, if I can only see one shower, should it be the peak of south delta aquarids, or August 12th at 11:00 PM to see the Perseids? Thank you all very much, love the forum.

(Also, to the moderators, sorry if this is in the wrong section, feel free to move it as you please)
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Anyone have any advice for me? This astronomy business is tough...haha...
 
I have always heard that the Perseids is the most visible meteor shower and I have enjoyed it very much in past years. But you are right that a bright moon may be an impediment. I have no better advice than to suggest you to take a look at:

http://www.heavens-above.com/

where you can display the sky-chart for your position at any day of the year. There you will see if the moon can be a problem for your observations.
 
Last edited:
Thanks hellfire, that site helps out a lot, exactly what I was looking. Thanks again
 

Similar threads

Stargazing Will You Be Watching the Perseid Meteor Shower?
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
8K
'Great Show': Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Sunday Night
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
High School Neutron star 4U 1820-30 spins at 716 revolutions per second
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
3K
High School What Could Explain the Mysterious Beam of Plasma Seen in the Sky in 2017?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
High School Can someone please identify what I saw? (lights in the night sky)
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
5K
High School How does output voltage of an electric guitar work?
  • · Replies 165 ·
6
Replies
165
Views
11K
Stargazing Cloud of Moving Stars: Astronomy Phenomenon I Just Saw
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
11K
High School Multiple Sequential Delayed Choice Experiment
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
High School Acceleration of time due to entropy
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
High School Beware of "truthiness" in astronomy in seemingly reliable websites
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
3K