Tonight's Meteor Shower May Be Hampered By Cloud Coverage

TAMPA BAY, FL — Astronomers are predicted a spectacular show tonight at the peak of the Delta Aquarids meteor shower. Unfortunately, heavy cloud cover over Tampa Bay may prevent residents from enjoying it.

The National Weather Service said it will be mostly cloudy tonight with scattered storms throughout Tampa Bay.

However, there may be other opportunities to view the light show, which began on July 12 and will continue through Aug. 23.

The constellation Aquarius, also known as the Water Bearer, will overlap with the highly anticipated Perseid meteor shower in early August.

Although peaking July 28, the Delta Aquarids will still be visible during the approaching new moon July 31 to Aug. 1, producing 10 to 15 visible meteors per hour.

The Perseids, which began July 17 and last through Aug. 24, are also likely to produce 10 to 15 visible meteors per hour because the moon will be very close to full during the peak dates Aug. 11-13.

The best viewing times are after midnight and before dawn.

If cloud cover prevents viewing tonight as predicted, sky watchers should start watching for the Perseids in the pre-dawn hours from Friday, Aug. 9, through Sunday, Aug. 11. On those dates, there will be more moon-free viewing time than during the peak dates.

In years without moonlight, the Perseids are visible at much higher rates, and in outburst years, such as 2016, they can fly at a rate of 150 to 200 meteors an hour.

"Unfortunately, the moon will be very close to full on the night of the peak, which will wash out the fainter Perseids," NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke told Space.com.

Still, it's worth the watch.

"The Perseids are rich in fireballs, so you'll still see Perseids," Cooke said. "You just won't see the show you've seen on nights when the moon has not been around."

And though the meteor shower is most visible after midnight, sky watchers may see a sprinkling of meteors from mid-to-late evening. A rare earthgrazer — a long, slow, colorful meteor along the horizon — is also possible during the evening. Earthsky said Perseid earthgrazers occur before midnight because the radiant point of the shower is close to the horizon.

So, with the Delta Aquarids and Perseids flying at the same time, how will sky watchers know the difference? They'll need to find the radiant point, especially for the Delta Aquarids.

The Perseids radiate from the constellation Perseus, named after the hero Perseus in Greek mythology, near the famous Double Cluster. The constellation is found in the northern sky and is one of the largest. Finding the radiant point for the Perseids isn't necessary because they fly in all parts of the sky.

The Delta Aquarids,when traced backward, appear to radiate from a point in front of the constellation Aquarius the Water Bearer, which arcs across the southern sky in North America.
The radiant point for the Delta Aquarids nearly aligns with the star Skat (Delta Aquarii), for which the shower is named.

For both showers, find a dark, open sky. Be patient. It'll take your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness, and set aside at least an hour to view them. They can come in spurts, and there can be a lull between shooting stars. Bring along a blanket or reclining lawn chair and settle in to enjoy the show.

— By Patch National Editor Beth Dalbey