Meteor shower, stars promise treat for July stargazers

Barring inclement weather, stargazers will be treated to several heavenly sights in July, including a meteor shower from July 28 to 31, state astronomers said. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower will peak around July 29. “(It will) be best observed from July 28 to 31. The estimated peak date will be before midnight and onward on July 29,” PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said. He said the showers are part of a complex of radiants in Aquarius, Capricornus and Piscis Austrinus, which combine with sporadic and early Perseid activity to provide a “nice display of meteors.” Servando said the stream normally produces about five to 10 meteors per hour, with overall activity of about 15 meteors per hour under good sky conditions. Also in July, Servando said the month offers a fine display of celestial bodies, stars and constellations after sunset and before sunrise. One of them is the famous Summer Triangle of the stars Vega, Deneb and Altair of the constellations Lyra, Aquila and Cygnus, respectively. The bowls of the Big and Small Dipper in Ursa Major and Minor will stand high above the northern horizon with the body of the constellation Draco winding between them. Also, he said the grouping of a horseshoe-shape star formation of the constellation Corona Borealis lies on the north-south meridian with the head of Draco below it. Scorpio is positioned above the east-south eastern horizon, while the constellations of Centaurus and Crux are just above the south direction after sunset. Planets Servando said Mercury will stand at about 15 degrees above the west northwestern horizon thirty minutes after sunset. He said it will continue to move downward the horizon until it will be no longer visible in the sky for observation on the last week of July. Mars and Saturn will be visible at the west southwestern horizon after sunset and will be found among the background stars of the constellation Virgo. Uranus and Neptune will be visible from midnight until sunrise throughout the month, at the east-southeastern horizon and will lie among the background stars of Pisces and Aquarius. Jupiter and Venus will make a fine target for photography as they lie among the background stars of the V-shaped star clusters known as the Hyades group of stars in the constellation of Taurus. “A beautiful waning crescent Moon will join the group in mid-July,” Servando said. — LBG, GMA News