Delta Aquariid meteor shower to light up Oman skies

Oman's night sky will soon be illuminated by the annual Delta Aquariid meteor shower, set to peak on the nights of July 30 and 31. Skywatchers across the country have the opportunity to witness this celestial event, with astronomers predicting up to 15–20 meteors streaking across the sky per hour under ideal viewing conditions.

The Oman Society of Astronomy and Space highlights the Delta Aquariids as one of the most significant summer meteor showers. This annual display remains active for an extended period, from July 12 to August 23, captivating observers with its fast-moving celestial phenomena.

The origin of these meteors traces back to the debris shed by Comet 96P/Machholz. As this cosmic dust enters Earth's atmosphere at approximately 41 kilometers per second, it ignites, creating the dazzling light show. The meteors appear to originate from the constellation Aquarius, which lends the shower its distinctive name.