JEDDAH — The annual Delta Aquariids meteor shower will peak over the Arab world in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, offering stargazers one of the year’s most prominent celestial displays.
Under dark skies away from light pollution, several meteors will be visible to the naked eye, making the event especially appealing to astronomy enthusiasts and astrophotographers.
Head of the Jeddah Astronomy Society Majed Abu Zahra said the Delta Aquariids could produce up to 25 meteors per hour under ideal observing conditions.
He said the best viewing time begins around 3 a.m., when the shower’s radiant rises above the southern horizon, with activity continuing until dawn.
Abu Zahra explained that the Delta Aquariids are active annually from July 12 to August 23, as Earth passes through a stream of debris that enters the atmosphere at speeds of about 41 kilometers per second.
Although moonlight will reduce the number of meteors visible to the naked eye during the peak, he noted that the shower will remain active for several weeks afterward.
Source: Saudi Gazette