Four meteor showers will streak across South African skies this month, giving stargazers plenty of reason to bundle up and look up. Clear, crisp evenings also make July one of the best months to catch the Milky Way stretching across the night sky.
Picture: Clay Banks/Unsplash
According to the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), winter’s longer nights and dry air create ideal stargazing conditions.
Mark these dates in your diary
The Southern delta-Aquariids are active from 12 July to 23 August, reaching their peak on 31 July with up to 25 meteors an hour, best viewed between 10pm and 5am. They’re joined by the alpha-Capricornids, known for their bright, slow-moving meteors, which also peak on 31 July, producing about 5 meteors an hour between 8pm and 4am.
The Piscis Austrinids peak on 28 July, with around 5 meteors an hour visible from 9:30pm to 5am, while the eta-Eridanids become active from 31 July and peak on 7 August, at a quieter 3 meteors an hour.
See full starry SAAO guide here
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Swap the city lights for starry nights
For the best view, head somewhere dark and away from artificial lights, then give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust. Those hoping to spot the Southern delta-Aquariids should look towards the constellation Aquarius, although meteors can streak across almost any part of the sky.
July is also prime time for spotting the Milky Way, arching across the southern sky on clear evenings. Keep an eye out for familiar constellations such as the Southern Cross, Centaurus, Scorpius and the Southern Triangle, along with bright stars like Canopus, Sirius and the Pointers, the SAAO notes
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