Starwatch: Delta Aquariid meteors reach peak this week

Practise meteor-watching skills in preparation for August's Perseid shower in days up to 30 July

Practise your meteor-watching skills this week in preparation for next month's main event: the August Perseid meteor shower.

This week, it is the turn of the fainter Delta Aquariid meteors to reach its peak. Nominally expected on 30 July, the truth is that they are consistent for days surrounding the crescendo. This year is a good one to look because the Delta Aquariids tend to be faint, yet the new moon occurs on 28 July meaning that it will be long gone from the sky around midnight when the meteors become most visible.