July 2025

16 Mysteries of the Night Sky July’s Meteoric Magic July’s sky is a stage, and this month’s meteor shower is a quiet yet mesmerizing performance. While the famous Perseids dominate headlines in August, the Southern Delta Aquariids de- serve their moment of attention. Active from July 18 through August 12, the Delta Aquariids peak around July 30, sending dozens of meteors streaking through the night in a show that is subtle, beautiful, and worth staying up for. Unlike meteor showers known for bright fireballs, the Delta Aquariids are characterized by their consistency and speed. These meteors travel at 25 miles per second (41 km/s), often leaving faint, elegant trails across the sky. Their radiant, or the point from which they appear to originate, is in the constellation Aquarius. However, because meteors can appear anywhere overhead, viewers don’t need to locate Aquarius precisely to enjoy the show. The origin of the Delta Aquariids is believed to be debris from Comet 96P/Machholz, a short- period comet discovered in 1986. As Earth passes through this stream of dust and rock frag - ments, the particles collide with our atmosphere and burn up, creating quick flashes of light. While the Southern Hemisphere has the best viewing conditions due to the radiant’s position, observers in southern U.S. states and across the world’s mid-latitudes can still see dozens of meteors per hour during peak nights under dark skies. Photo by |