How to See the Delta Aquarids in the Skies of Madrid Tonight

One of the most beautiful natural spectacles is the meteor shower, which can be observed every year in August. tears of st. lawrence And Perseids These are the most famous phenomena that can be seen in the skies of Madrid over several days.

Although, as a prelude, there will also be a similar event this Tuesday evening that will be visible in the community. It is about Delta Aquarids. Every year you can witness its luminous and magical show in the sky from mid-July to the end of August, although during The days of greatest visibility are from July 30 to 31.

According to him National Astronomical Observatory of the National Geographic Institute (IGN)Although its peak can be seen very clearly in the Northern Hemisphere, this astronomical event is best observed from the Southern Hemisphere.

For optimal viewing, IGN recommends looking to the side darker areasavoiding the light of the moon. In space, away from the light pollution of cities, it is easier to appreciate the stars. Thus, ideal conditions arise in clear night.

The ideal point for observing them is about 45 degrees from the constellation Aquariusin accordance with POT. In addition, through interactive map On his website you can choose the meteor shower you like and view it with Earth or from Solar system.

Delta Aquarids

A meteor shower occurs when the Earth’s orbit crosses the wake of a comet’s remains, causing them to light up and become Falling stars upon entering our atmosphere, attracted by the Earth’s gravity.

The Earth, in its annual journey, crosses the so-called meteor tube– from mid-July to late August. It always occurs at the same time of year, so the Delta Aquarids are visible at the same time. The peak of this shower is around July 31, as this is the time when the terrestrial planet passes through its densest region.

These meteors, in particular, have a radiant at star Delta in the constellation Aquarius. That’s where its name comes from.

This phenomenon is characterized by moderate activity, generating about about 25 meteors per hour under optimal viewing conditions, IGN reports. They fall at a speed of 41 km/h.This, which happened in the summer, is the fifth most intense of the year.

In particular, this comet shares some characteristics with others of its kind, including its connection to its parent comet. Experts believe that the culprit in this case is a person classified as comet 96P/Machholz.

This comet was discovered in 1986 by an astronomer Donald Machholz and it has several peculiarities: its orbit is particularly eccentric, so it completes its journey in just over five years. Its chemical composition and high orbital inclination also emphasize the rarity of this celestial body. Some scientists consider the possibility that it has an extrasolar origin.