BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ
Filipinos may get to see three meteor shower events this month, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its July astronomical diary.
PAGASA said the Piscis Austrinid, Southern δ-Aquariids, and α-Capricornids meteor showers will all be active this month.
The Piscis Austrinid meteor shower will be visible from July 15 to Aug. 10 with its peak on July 29.
“It will be active from the time its radiant, Piscis Austrinus, begins to rise in the southeastern sky at 8:47 p.m. until before sunrise, producing an average of five meteors per hour,” PAGASA said.
“The number of visible meteors increases as the radiant rises to its highest point in the sky around 2 a.m.,” it added.
The southern sky on July 29, 2023, at 2 a.m., during the peak of the Piscis Austrinids when the shower’s radiant represented by the solid green circle is most prominent in the sky. (PAGASA)
However, it pointed out that the waxing gibbous Moon may cause substantial interference in the observation of this meteor shower event.
Meanwhile, PAGASA said the Southern δ-Aquariids meteor shower will be active from July 12 to Aug. 23 with its peak activity on July 30.
It is anticipated to produce 25 meteors per hour.
The α-Capricornids will also be active from July 3 to Aug. 15, with its peak activity on July 30, PAGASA said.
Five meteors are expected to be produced every hour.
“Both of these meteor showers (Southern δ-Aquariids and α-Capricornids) can be found in the southeastern sky, and are likely to produce their best displays around 2 a.m. when their radiant point is highest in the sky,” PAGASA said.
