By Janelle Walker
Streaks of light will dazzle viewers as the Delta Aquarid meteor shower reaches its peak July 28 and 29.
This year the Delta Aquarid meteor shower goes from July 14 to Aug. 17, peaking Monday and Tuesday next week.
Popularly called 'shooting' or 'falling stars,' meteor showers are created by small pieces of cosmic debris entering the earth''s atmosphere at extremely high speeds. Because the particles travel in parallel paths and at the same velocity, they usually appear to radiate from a single point in the sky to an observer.
'We can predict the dates of meteor showers because the orbit of the earth crosses the orbits of the meteors at about the same region and time every year,' said D. Harold McNamara, BYU professor of physics and astronomy.
'The particles hitting the atmosphere are usually about the size of a grain of sand and they are heated by friction,' McNamara said. 'They have lots of energy because of their high velocity.'
Many BYU students go the distance to enjoy the spectacular light shows produced by meteor showers.
BYU student, Bryce Shelley, a senior from American Fork, once climbed to the top of Mt. Timpanogos to view a meteor shower.
'I''ve enjoyed watching meteors ever since my dad took me to see Halley''s comet when I was six years old,' Shelley said. 'I like how you can sit and look at the sky, and it changes. There are streaks of light everywhere, like fireflies.'
The meteor shower will be most visible around 2 to 3 a.m., a few hours before sunrise Monday and Tuesday morning.
Luckily, a new moon is visible during the peak dates, so the meteors will be easier to see.
'Going at the end of July is a good time because there can be meteors from other showers besides the Delta Aquarid that may be visible,' said Eric G. Hintz, BYU professor of physics and astronomy and a faculty member over the BYU Astronomical Society. 'Just go to a place away from the city lights, lay back and enjoy the sight.'
The Delta Aquarid is labeled as a moderate meteor shower. The next major category meteor shower is the Perseid, lasting from July 23 through Aug. 22, with its peak Aug. 12.