Story:
Don’t miss these Minor Meteor Showers this Summer.
Analysis:
Every summer, amateur astronomers around the world look forward to observing the famous Perseid Meteor Shower that takes place during July 23 – August 20. This astronomical Meteor Shower phenomenon is so popular that they are sometimes illustrated as rarest and spectacular. However, there are the other six lesser celestial fireworks displays (Minor Meteor Showers) that are often overlooked, which reach their peak between July 28 and Aug. 20.
Minor Meteor Showers
According to Space.com, this year in 2014, a bright nearly-full moon will interfere with the regular Perseid meteor observing, so people are advised to take this opportunity to try and view the other six minor meteor showers. These six minor meteor showers that are listed below with details are thought to beat the Perseids this Summer. The Delta Aquarids meteor shower in 2014 that peaks on July 29-30 is expected to have good viewing in the absence of a bright moon in the sky. You can get more information about 2014 Delta Aquarids and live updates on NASA.gov website. Overall, the Perseid and the minor meteors are believed to provide a wide variety of showers of differing colors, speeds and trajectories.
| Shower name | Pd. of visibility | Peak date | Hourly rate | Remarks |
| S. Delta Aquarids | July 12 – Aug. 19 | July 28 | 15 | Faint, medium speed. |
| Alpha Capricornids | July 3 – Aug. 15 | July 30 | 4-5 | Slow, bright, a few fireballs. |
| S. Iota Aquarids | July 25 – Aug. 15 | Aug. 4 | 1-2 | Faint, medium speed. |
| N. Delta Aquarids | July 15 – Aug. 25 | Aug. 8 | 1-4 | Faint, medium speed. |
| Kappa Cyqnids | Aug. 3 – Aug. 25 | Aug. 18 | 1-3 | Slow moving, sometimes brilliant. |
| N. Iota Aquarids | Aug. 11 – Aug. 31 | Aug. 20 | 1-3 | Faint, medium speed. |
What You Need
The Perseids are best for the Northern Hemisphere, and the Delta Aquarids are best for the Southern Hemisphere, so there can be something for everyone. To view these summer meteor showers with your naked eyes, you need to have a modest amount of patience, good weather and dark skies. For a better vision, you can find a fairly dark location, shielded from stray light, including that of Moon. You can avoid the moon light interference by sitting under the shadow of a tree or building. Remember, you’ll catch more meteors after midnight than before, the predawn hours being ideal to watch.
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