Four Meteor Showers and a View of the Milky Way Expected Over South Africa in July

Residents of South Africa willing to move away from city lights can enjoy an impressive celestial spectacle throughout July. This month is expected to feature activity from four meteor showers that will illuminate the night sky against the backdrop of the magnificent Milky Way.

What are meteors and when to observe them

Meteors, often called 'shooting stars,' are tiny particles of rock and dust that flare up upon entering Earth's atmosphere, creating bright flashes of light lasting only a few seconds. July is considered one of the best months for observing this phenomenon, as several meteor showers become active, with two of them reaching their peak at the end of the month.

Meteor Shower Activity Schedule

The South African Observatory has reported that observers have much interesting to look forward to. Four meteor showers are active in July, and the prospects for observing all of them are rated as good. The Southern Delta Aquariids will be active from July 12 to August 23 and will peak on the night of July 31. Simultaneously, the Alpha Scorpiids, known for their bright and slow-moving meteors, will also reach their peak on the same day.

Additionally, the Pisces South shower is expected to peak on July 28, and the Eta Eridani shower will reach its maximum on August 8. For the best viewing, it is recommended to go to a dark place, far from artificial light, and allow your eyes about twenty minutes to adapt to the darkness.

Tips for Observing the Showers

Although each meteor shower appears to originate from a specific constellation, the meteors themselves can flash almost anywhere in the sky. The South African Observatory advised viewers wishing to see the Southern Delta Aquariids to focus their attention in the correct direction. To do this, one should find a dark place and look towards the constellation Aquarius, where the radiant of the Southern Delta Aquariids is located.

View of the Milky Way and Stars

In addition to meteors, the July skies offer a breathtaking view of our galaxy. On clear evenings, the Milky Way stretches like a luminous river of billions of stars across the sky, being much more visible in winter due to dry, clear air and longer nights. The Observatory noted that some of the most recognizable constellations of the Southern Hemisphere will also be visible in the sky, including Centaurus, the Southern Cross, the Southern Triangle, and Scorpius. Looking towards Sagittarius will allow observers to gaze toward the very heart of the Milky Way.

At the center of our galaxy, hidden by dense clouds of cosmic dust, lies a supermassive black hole, whose mass is approximately four million times that of the Sun. Among the evening sights will be Canopus, the second brightest star visible from Earth. Although it appears slightly dimmer than Sirius, this is because it is much farther away. Canopus is a supergiant star that is approximately eight to nine times the mass of the Sun, about 65 times wider, and astonishingly 15,000 times brighter.

The South African Observatory emphasized the exceptional nature of this giant star. Despite the surface temperature of Canopus being only 7800 degrees, its atmosphere is heated to approximately 20 million degrees, meaning there is a large amount of hard radiation for any astronaut who might be nearby.