A double meteor shower peak will occur this week, featuring the Alpha Capricornids and the Southern Delta Aquariids. The Alpha Capricornids are active from early July to mid-August, and the Southern Delta Aquariids are active from mid-July to mid-August, but both are expected to reach their peaks on Thursday night into Friday, according to the American Meteor Society.

Meteor Shower Viewing Tips

However, the July full moon will peak and appear at its fullest on Wednesday, and its reflected light will hinder visibility of fainter meteors, according to Bob Lunsford, report coordinator for the American Meteor Society. To get the best vantage point, try viewing the meteor shower from a high elevation and position yourself “facing northward with the moon at your back, so that the direct moonlight doesn’t affect your night vision,” Lunsford advised.

The Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower radiates from the Aquarius constellation and is known to produce faster-moving meteors — around two per hour as seen from the Northern Hemisphere and three per hour from the viewpoint of the Southern Hemisphere. Meanwhile, the Alpha Capricornid meteor shower radiates from the Capricornus constellation and tends to feature brighter meteors that are easier to spot — around three per hour as seen from both hemispheres, the American Meteor Society reports.

Meteor showers can provide spectacular views, but that’s not the only reason to observe them. Viewing these cosmic events can reveal key insights into space. Taking note of such events can help experts “determine the particles in space that are orbiting and when we intercept them every year,” Lunsford said.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.