Starwatch: Aquariid meteor shower opens the summer season

It's not the most spectacular of meteor showers but the delta Aquariids last for over a week, giving plenty of opportunities for meteor spotting

The summer season of meteor showers begins this week. First up are the delta Aquariids. As the name suggests the meteors radiate from a point in the constellation of Aquarius, the water bearer. This is an admittedly modest shower with just 15 to 20 meteors expected an hour at the peak but it is also a forgiving one. Instead of a sharp peak in number, the shower is spread out over a week or more. So taking a look any time between now and the end of the month presents a good chance of seeing something. The chart shows the position of the delta Aquariids' radiant at 03:00 BST on 26 July 2019. Between the early hours and dawn is usually the best time to see meteors. Look at the sky around the radiant, rather than straight at it.