A meteor shower captured from New Zealand. Photo / Stephen Voss
A meteor shower captured from New Zealand. Photo / Stephen Voss
The sky over Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand is set to host a cosmic double-feature this week.
However, a MetService meteorologist says poor weather could ruin the show.
The Southern delta-Aquarids and alpha-Capricornids meteor showers will be viewable over New Zealand from 10pm tomorrow until 4am onWednesday, with peak activity expected about 2am.
Hawke’s Bay Holt Planetarium director Bruce Ngataierua said both should be viewable in the southern sky after sunset tomorrow evening.
“Viewing is best out of the city to see them properly, with a dark sky location so the southern horizon can be seen,” he said.
Ngataierua said the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand estimates the Southern delta-Aquarids in the constellation Aquarius should bring 20 meteors an hour, while alpha-Capricornids in the constellation Capricorn should bring four meteors an hour.
A crescent moon will also feature.
The Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand said on its website the alpha-Capricornids showers are noted for their bright events and can make for some of the most impressive and attractive meteor showers an observer could wish for.
The Aquarids showers, which the Southern delta-Aquarids are a part of, are streams rich in faint meteors, making them well-suited for viewing through a telescope, but those with a view of the southern sky should see some brighter events from the shower.
However, MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker warned hopeful shower watchers that clouds could ruin the great gig in the sky.
“There is going to be some cloud about,” Bakker said.
“The good news is that it looks like there’s going to be less cloud in Hawke’s Bay than in many other nearby places, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be a beautiful clear night.
“So, I’d say good luck.”
Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in Auckland, London, Berlin, and Napier.
