European stock markets have been on a tear in 2025, with the Stoxx Europe 600 index climbing roughly 7% in the year to date and investors rotating into the region to seek refuge from the political and valuation anxieties of the U.S. markets. But some analysts warn that this rally is built on a fragile and potentially risky assumption: that the escalating global trade war is temporary and will pass without inflicting lasting damage. Investment strategists highlight that beneath the surface of the market’s optimism, the data tells a more grounded story. .STOXX YTD mountain They point to the Federal Reserve’s forecast that the U.S. GDP will grow by 1.4% this year , down from the 1.7% previously forecast in March, before the announcement of U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariff regime. The growth slowdown in the U.S. — the central driver of the global economy — is expected to wash up on European shores soon. Yet, equity markets are running on hopes of central bank easing and a belief that political leaders will swerve at the last moment, appearing to ignore the risk of a significant economic downturn, according to Bank of America. “Markets are effectively pricing right now for global growth momentum to be completely unaffected by the tariffs,” BofA’s Head of European Equity Strategy Sebastian Raedler told CNBC on Thursday. “That’s not the situation that we’re in.” Raedler also highlighted that companies were paying $190 billion more in tariffs on an annualized basis in May compared to late last year, equivalent to 7% of corporate profits in the first quarter. “Corporations have not passed [the tariffs] on to consumers,” he added. Which means, as companies absorb the price increase, they will experience a significant profit margin squeeze. “If you look at margin expectations, they’re at all-time highs. So the market has not yet taken this seriously.” Bank of America’s Raedler has long been bearish on European equities despite multiple years of gains. He says the Stoxx Europe 600 index will decline to 490 over the next 12 months, equivalent to a 11% downside from current levels. More neutral than outright bearish, JPMorgan strategists have also advised caution, suggesting the “eurozone likely consolidates for some time longer” as it digests ongoing trade negotiations. The Wall Street bank says the Stoxx Europe 600 will hit 540 — about where it is currently trading — in 12 months, after paring gains from a minor rally to 580 by the end of this year. Their analysis is centered around the economic drag created by tariffs. The U.S., a critical market for European exports, had not yet felt the impact of the duties, as companies were still working through the goods that had rushed into the country ahead of Trump’s announcement. “There was a very strong frontloading of orders ahead of the tariffs, and companies might be still working through this older inventory, which was acquired at lower prices,” said Mislav Matejka, JPMorgan’s head of global and European equity strategy in a note to clients, adding that “as the frontloading effects wane, the tariff impact might start to be felt”. Despite these clear headwinds, markets remain optimistic, fueled by two main narratives. The first is the belief that the tariffs are merely a negotiating tactic and will be rolled back. The second — and perhaps more powerful — driver is the prospect of central banks easing their monetary policy. Markets are “spurring discussions around renewed Fed easing,” a notion that encourages investors to “look through” any short-term economic weakness, according to Bank of America. Barclays, in a July 2 note to clients, echoed this view, pointing to the “dovish” central bank narrative as a key factor that has pushed global equities higher. In addition, unlike the Wall Street banks, the U.K.-headquartered investment bank says the risk of further tariffs has already peaked. “Tariffs shock is expected to hit employment and capex in [second half], but de-escalation means worst-case recession scenario should be avoided,” said Emmanuel Cau, Head of European Equity Strategy at Barclays. “Meanwhile, tax cuts should support US growth down the road, while the Fed is expected to ramp up rate cuts, although we find current market pricing potentially too dovish.” Barclays’ Cau is expecting the Stoxx Europe Index to rise by 5% to 570 by the end of the year. The reality of the tariff situation, however, could be more complex. Equity analysts at TD Cowen had previously cited German footwear multinational Adidas’s management as confident in delivering their full-year results under a 10% tariff scenario. They now expect earnings guidance to be lowered following the U.S.-Vietnam deal , where tariffs have been set at 20%. “Our take is that the 20% tariff on Vietnam goods will remain on top of the duties already placed on footwear and apparel,” said TD Cowen’s John Kernan in a note to clients on July 3. “We expect the rest of [Southeast Asia] tariff rates to be at 20% or higher.” The impact is unlikely to be limited to just one company. Vietnam exports a third of all North American footwear and 15% of American apparel, according to TD Cowen.
“Discovery and adventure don’t need violence to be meaningful,” says Leyla S. Ozluk, speaking from her Melbourne studio. “I wanted to create something where kids and adults alike could explore, learn, and connect—without pressure, enemies, or timers.”
The Gameplay: Mindful, Accessible, and Full of Heart
With easy-to-learn gameplay mechanics, intuitive sliding movements, and relaxing soundscapes, Polar Pathways encourages mindfulness, curiosity, and peaceful exploration.
Players solve light environmental puzzles, enjoy gentle platforming, and interact with a beautiful arctic world—all without enemies, without time constraints, and without stressful objectives.
“It’s about letting players slow down and enjoy the journey,” says Leyla. “We designed everything—from movement to music—to create a space where you can breathe, relax, and explore at your own pace.”
Thanks to its wordless gameplay and accessible UI/UX, the game is ideal for all ages and skill levels—from young kids discovering games for the first time to adults looking for a calming digital escape.
Players will join Peng Wing, the game’s lovable penguin protagonist, on a wholesome journey about community, friendship, and finding your way home.
More Than Just a Game: Supporting Healthy Development
Beyond the charming visuals and accessible gameplay, Polar Pathways is also being praised by parents, educators, and child development professionals.
By focusing on spatial awareness, problem-solving, and open-ended exploration in a non-violent, low-stress environment, the game naturally supports neural development and cognitive growth in younger players—while still delivering a relaxing experience for adults.
“So many kids’ games push speed and aggression,” Leyla explains. “We wanted Polar Pathways to offer something different—a place where learning, adventure, and emotional wellbeing go hand in hand.”
Breaking Industry Norms: A Female-Led Success Story
As a female developer thriving in a historically male-dominated industry, Leyla S. Ozluk’s journey stands out.
Armed with a Bachelor of Game Design and Development from Torrens University Melbourne, Leyla founded Ambient Games with a mission to bring wholesome, inclusive, and emotionally engaging gaming experiences to players worldwide.
“Women have powerful stories to tell in gaming,” she says. “Polar Pathways is proof that you can create something fun, meaningful, and commercially successful—without following the usual gaming formulas.”
Since launch, Polar Pathways has earned glowing Steam reviews, captured the attention of gaming forums, and sparked positive coverage across parenting blogs, education media, and indie game communities.
Where to Play and Connect
Polar Pathways is available now on Steam, with future updates and community activities planned.
About Leyla S. Ozluk
Leyla S. Ozluk, based in Melbourne, is a passionate game developer and founder of Ambient Games. A graduate with a Bachelor of Game Design and Development from Torrens University Melbourne, Leyla is committed to crafting wholesome, non-combat, and emotionally rich games that encourage exploration, learning, and emotional connection for players of all ages.
Media Contact Leyla S. Ozluk, Ambient Games, 61 435180930, [email protected], https://www.ambientgames.com.au/
A total of 106 young women with breast cancer were included, with a mean age of 35.72 ± 4.56 years. They had one to three dependent children with a mean age of 12.43 ± 3.25 years. The patients had an educational level above junior high school. The socio-demographic characteristics of the patients are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Univariate analysis on the PCQ in young breast cancer patients (n = 106)
The mean score of PCQ in young breast cancer patients was 3.24 (SD = 0.65). The subscale with the highest score was “practical impact of illness on child” (M = 3.62, SD = 0.77), followed by “emotional impact of illness on child” (M = 3.13, SD = 0.86) and “concerns about co-parent” (M = 2.96, SD = 0.72) (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1
Scores of young breast cancer women’s PCQ
As shown in Table 1, there were four factors associated with PCQ total score (p < 0.05): the TNM stage, treatment stage, number of children, children’s age. All four variables were entered into the PCQ regression model. Number of children showed the strongest positive association with parenting concers (coefficient = 0.660), while children’s age was strongest negatively associated with parenting concers (coefficient = -0.555) (Table 2).
Table 2 Regression analysis of PCQ scores
Qualitative results
Twenty patients participated in the qualitative study and their general socio-demographic details are shown in Table 3. Patient interview duration ranged from 27 to 62 min (mean duration 41 min). Forty-one codes were first obtained from the interview content, and seven sub-themes were obtained through comparison and clustering, with three themes further refined (Supplementary Material). This study identified three aspects of motherhood-related concerns among young women with breast cancer: children’s physical and emotional care, father’s parenting ability, and challenges faced by the mothers themselves (Fig. 2).
Table 3 Demographic and clinical information of participants in qualitative study(n = 20)
Fig. 2
Motherhood role concerns for young breast cancer women
Theme 1: children’s physical and emotional care
All mothers mentioned concerns about the care of their children. This theme was further divided into two sub-themes: inability to care for the child’s daily life and the emotional impact on the child.
Inability to care for the child’s daily life
In everyday life, mothers acted as the main carers of their children. The debilitating physical condition imposed by the disease forced the mothers to reconsider the care of their children in terms of food, clothing, shelter, and academic supervision. The mothers’ concerns were related to the ability of their children to adapt to these changes in daily life and the impact of the illness on the children’s life and education.
“The child’s father is not very good at cooking. During the time I was hospitalized, the child could only eat what his father cooked. Now the child has lost weight. And his father can’t monitor his studies because he didn’t even ask about that before. I had to be anxious all the time I was in the hospital. I was also worried about money.” (P13).
The emotional impact on the child
After the illness, mothers noticed changes in their children’s mood. Children experienced negative emotions such as crying and sadness after learning of their mother’s illness. Mothers indicated that their children also expressed concerns such as fear of dying and not being able to continue to be with them, and confusion about the future. This resulted in feelings of distress and sadness among the mothers, who were anxious about causing emotional harm to their children.
“I’ve noticed that she (my daughter) has quietly cried several times since she knew I was sick. Her father has seen it too, and it saddens me that she has to worry about me at an age when she should be innocent.” (P7).
“My child asked if I would die and I felt her anxiety and fear that I would not be able to continue to be there for her.” (P12).
Theme 2: father’s parenting ability
The father’s caring responsibilities assume greater importance when the mother is ill. However, many mothers expressed concerns about the father’s ability to care for the children. This theme was further divided into two sub-themes: caring ability and communication ability.
Caring ability
In most families, mothers are usually the primary caregivers for the children, and fathers are responsible for helping out. However, after an illness, fathers have to take on more responsibility for education. Due to the fathers’ lack of proficiency in these aspects, mothers had to concern about various aspects of child care, such as dietary issues and transport, during their hospitalization. Moreover, many mothers reported that they were the primary contact with their child’s teachers. The fathers rarely, if ever, had any contact with the teachers and were not aware of their children’s learning status. Therefore, during the hospitalization period, many of the mothers continued to take on the task of communicating with their children’s teachers, which was exhausting for them.
“Their father also doesn’t have time to pick up and drop off the kids, and I need to be hospitalized. So childcare is a problem. Also, the children’s father didn’t even have contact with the teacher before. Now every week the teacher still talks to me about my child’s recent learning. I’m tired too but I can’t help it, there’s no one to help me share.”(P11).
Communication ability
During the mother’s hospitalization, fathers had more time to interact with their children. However, most fathers were not subtle and articulate enough while communicating with their children. Many mothers expressed concerns about the ability of the fathers to communicate with their children, fearing that something was not being handled well by the father and that it was affecting the parent–child relationship.
“His father communicates very little with him. His father is not good at expressing himself. I’m not at home and I’m afraid the two of them will have a conflict.”(P13).
Theme 3: challenges faced by the mothers themselves
In addition to their concerns about their children and co-parents, many mothers also expressed concerns about themselves. This theme was further divided into three sub-themes: difficulty in maintaining a motherhood figure, negative psychological feelings, and reduced social self-worth.
Difficulty in maintaining a motherhood figure
Many mothers reported that they have lost their breasts after breast cancer surgery and their hair after chemotherapy. They also experienced other problems such as poor color and lack of appetite that affected their image in front of their children. Mothers did not want their children to see them without hair or worried that they were too young and will be scared to see them, so they wore wigs or hats when they faced their children. Some mothers also avoided bathing in the shower with their children because they did not want their children to see their scars. Some mothers felt that breast cancer had also robbed them of their right to have children again, and they are afraid that they will not be able to have children again, in addition to worrying about the risks of doing so.
“I’m afraid to show my child that I have no hair left. I’m also afraid to show her my long scars. I think she would be scared. I may only be able to have this one child in my life. Because I heard that having another child might cause a recurrence, I am afraid.”(P10).
Negative psychological feelings
Disease-related communication, the child’s physical health, and their emotional problems were the issues that most mothers were anxious about. Mothers hesitated between hiding or informing their children; they could not choose. They felt that their children were too young to understand even if they were told the truth. Since breast cancer is a hereditary disease, they were even more anxious about their children’s health. The emotional problems caused by the disease also plagued them during their stay in the hospital.
“I don’t know if I should tell my child about my illness. I’m worried that telling her will psychologically burden her. I am also afraid that hiding it from her will make her even more upset if she finds out. The disease is also hereditary and I am even more worried that she might get sick too. I have not been in a good mood since the treatment.”(P12).
Reduced social self-worth
Many mothers felt that the disease disrupted the rhythm of their lives because they were young and needed to work. The treatment for the disease necessitated prolonged periods of hospitalization, forcing them to give up their jobs. Many mothers felt that their sense of self-worth had diminished, that their contribution to the family had diminished, and that they had become the ones who needed to be taken care of. They even had to avoid going to their children’s activities, which made them feel sorry for their children and fear that their social circle was shrinking.
“I’m only 32 years old and since I’ve been sick I haven’t been able to work. It’s been six months now and I’m still in treatment. I don’t feel like I have any value left. My children have parent–child sports day and I can’t attend. I’m feeling so poorly that I can’t even go out anymore.”(P18).
Hamas leaders are close to accepting a proposed deal for a ceasefire in Gaza but want stronger guarantees that any pause in hostilities would lead to a permanent end to the 20-month war, sources close to the militant Islamist organisation have said.
Hamas officials met on Thursday in Istanbul to discuss the new ceasefire proposals and later issued a statement confirming they were talking to other “Palestinian factions” before formally announcing a response.
The militant Islamist group has come under immense pressure in recent months, with its military leadership decimated and the Israeli military forcing its fighters out of former strongholds in the southern and central parts of Gaza.
In recent days, Israel has ramped up its offensive, launching an intense wave of airstrikes across Gaza, killing more than 250 Palestinians, according to medical and civil defence officials, including many women and children.
Hardline factions within Hamas have now reluctantly accepted the need for a ceasefire to allow the organisation to regroup and plan a new strategy, one source familiar with the internal debate said.
Since a previous ceasefire collapsed in March, more than 6,000 people have been killed in Gaza and an acute humanitarian crisis has worsened.
Efforts for a new truce in Gaza gathered momentum after the US secured a ceasefire to end the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran last month.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, is expected to fly to Washington on Sunday for talks with Trump about the war in Gaza, the recent war between Israel and Iran, and other regional issues.
Netanyahu has long resisted a permanent end to the war in Gaza, partly to retain the support of far-right allies in his ruling coalition. But Israel’s successes in the war with Iran have strengthened his political position and opinion polls in Israel show strong support for a deal.
On Tuesday, Trump announced that Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties will work to end the war.
Israel’s security cabinet met on Thursday night to discuss options for Gaza, including an escalation of the current offensive.
“Judging by the signals from Hamas, there is a high probability that we will start proximity talks in the next few days. If there is consent to proximity talks, there will be a deal,” senior Israeli officials told Channel 12, a major Israeli TV network.
A senior Israeli official close to Netanyahu told Reuters that preparations were now in place to approve the ceasefire deal. Another Israeli source said that an Israeli delegation was preparing to join indirect talks brokered by Qatar and Egypt to cement the deal if Hamas responded positively.
The proposal includes the release of 10 living Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the Hamas attack into southern Israel in October 2023 that triggered the conflict, and the return of the bodies of 18 more in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, an official familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday.
Hamas seized 251 hostages during the 2023 attack. Less than half of the 50 who remain in Gaza are believed to be alive.
Aid would enter Gaza immediately under the agreement, and the Israeli military would carry out a phased withdrawal from parts of the territory, according to the proposal. Negotiations would immediately start on a permanent ceasefire.
“We sure hope it’s a done deal, but I think it’s all going to be what Hamas is willing to accept,” Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, told Israel’s Channel 12 on Thursday. “One thing is clear: the president wants it to be over. The prime minister wants it to be over. The American people, the Israeli people, want it to be over.”
Speaking to journalists while on his way to a rally in Iowa on Thursday, Trump said: “I want the people of Gaza to be safe. That’s more important than anything else. They’ve gone through hell.”
Netanyahu visited Israel’s Nir Oz kibbutz on Thursday for the first time since the 2023 Hamas attack. The community was one of the worst-hit in the attack, with nearly one in four residents kidnapped or killed.
“I feel a deep commitment – first of all to ensure the return of all of our hostages, all of them. There are still 20 who are alive and there are also those who are deceased, and we will bring them all back,” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli prime minister has been heavily criticised for refusing to take responsibility for the failures that allowed the 2023 attack, during which Hamas-led militants killed 1,200, mostly civilians, and has been repeatedly accused of prioritising his political survival over the fate of the hostages.
Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 57,00 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to a count by the territory’s Ministry of Health that is considered reliable by the United Nations and many western governments.
The Israeli military said it “follows international law and takes feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm” when striking “terrorist targets”.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters.
| Photo Credit: AP
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday (July 4, 2025) it would probably be known in 24 hours whether the Palestinian militant group Hamas has agreed to accept what he has called a “final proposal” for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza.
The President also said he had spoken to Saudi Arabia about expanding the Abraham Accords, the deal on normalisation of ties that his administration negotiated between Israel and some Gulf countries during his first term.
Mr. Trump said on Tuesday Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties will work to end the war.
He was asked on Friday if Hamas had agreed to the latest ceasefire deal framework, and said: “We’ll see what happens, we are going to know over the next 24 hours.”
A source close to Hamas said on Thursday the Islamist group sought guarantees that the new U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal would lead to the end of Israel’s war in Gaza.
Two Israeli officials said those details were still being worked out. Dozens of Palestinians were killed on Thursday in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza authorities.
The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, Israeli tallies show.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza’s entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations.
A previous two month ceasefire ended when Israeli strikes killed more than 400 Palestinians on March 18. Mr. Trump earlier this year proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza, which was condemned globally by rights experts, the U.N. and Palestinians as a proposal of “ethnic cleansing.”
ABRAHAM ACCORDS
Mr. Trump made the comments on the Abraham Accords when asked about U.S. media reporting late on Thursday that he had met Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at the White House.
“It’s one of the things we talked about,” Mr. Trump said. “I think a lot of people are going to be joining the Abraham accords,” he added, citing the predicted expansion to the damage faced by Iran from recent U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Axios reported that after the meeting with Mr. Trump, the Saudi official spoke on the phone with Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces.
Mr. Trump’s meeting with the Saudi official came ahead of a visit to Washington next week by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
We recently learned that Samsung started working on Android 16-based One UI 8 for the Galaxy A55, and now we hear that the Korean brand has started testing One UI 8 for the Galaxy S24 FE as well.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Samsung is testing One UI 8 on the Galaxy S24 FE with firmware version S721BXXU6CYG1/S721BOXM6CYG1/S721BXXU6CYG1, which isn’t publicly available yet. And considering how Samsung directly rolled out the stable build of One UI 7 for the S24 FE without releasing an open beta, the smartphone may not be a part of the One UI 8 beta program either.
As far as the stable build of One UI 8 for the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is concerned, we hope it will be released by the end of this year since the smartphone received One UI 7’s stable update in April.
MANILA, Philippines — Asian shares were mixed on Friday after U.S. stocks climbed further into record heights as the clock ticks on President Donald Trump’s July 9 tariff deadline.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.6% to 39,762.20 after earlier gains, while South Korea’s KOSPI index was down 1.2% to 3,078.31.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost 0.6% to 23,914.44 while the Shanghai Composite index added 0.4% to 3,475.24. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.1% to 8,609.50. India’s Sensex index was up 0.1% to 83,288.73.
“Asian markets slipped into Friday like someone entering a dark alley with one eye over their shoulder — because while US equities danced higher on a sweet spotted post-payroll sugar rush, the mood in Asia was far less celebratory. The reason? That familiar, twitchy unease every time Trump gets near the tariff trigger,” Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, wrote in a commentary.
On Thursday, after a report showed a U.S. job market stronger than Wall Street expected, the S&P 500 rose 0.8% and set an all-time high for the fourth time in five days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 344 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%.
Many of Trump’s stiff proposed taxes on imports are currently on pause, but they’re scheduled to kick in next week unless Trump reaches deals with other countries to lower them.
In other dealings on Friday, U.S. benchmark crude was down 19 cents to $68.81 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, shed 30 cents to $68.50 per barrel.
The U.S. dollar slid to 144.48 Japanese yen from 144.92 yen. The euro edged higher to $1.1771 from $1.1761.
During this period, the moon reaches its full phase on Thursday July 10th. At that time the moon will be located opposite the sun and will lie above the horizon all night long. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set during the morning hours allowing a small window of opportunity to view meteor activity under dark skies between moon set and dawn. The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this weekend should be near 2 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 3 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). For morning observers, the estimated total hourly rates should be near 4 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 5 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). The actual rates seen will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions, alertness, and experience in watching meteor activity. Rates during this period are reduced due to moonlight. Note that the hourly rates listed below are estimates as viewed from dark sky sites away from urban light sources. Observers viewing from urban areas will see less activity as only the brighter meteors will be visible from such locations.
The radiant (the area of the sky where meteors appear to shoot from) positions and rates listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning July 5/6. These positions do not change greatly day to day so the listed positions may be used during this entire period. Most star atlases (available online and at bookstores and planetariums) will provide maps with grid lines of the celestial coordinates so that you may find out exactly where these positions are located in the sky. I have also included charts of the sky that display the radiant positions for evening, midnight, and morning. The center of each chart is the sky directly overhead at the appropriate hour. These charts are oriented for facing south but can be used for any direction by rotating the charts to the desired direction. A planisphere or computer planetarium program is also useful in showing the sky at any time of night on any date of the year. Activity from each radiant is best seen when it is positioned highest in the sky (culmination), either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your latitude. Radiants that rise after midnight will not reach their highest point in the sky until daylight. For these radiants, it is best to view them during the last few hours before dawn. It must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen at its radiant position. Rather they shoot outwards from the radiant, so it is best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies toward the edge and not the center. Viewing there will allow you to easily trace the path of each meteor back to the radiant (if it is a shower member) or in another direction if it is sporadic. Meteor activity is not seen from radiants that are located far below the horizon. The positions below are listed in a west to east manner in order of right ascension (celestial longitude). The positions listed first are located further west therefore are accessible earlier in the night while those listed further down the list rise later in the night.
Radiant Positions at 23:00 Local Summer Time
Radiant Positions at 01:00 Local Summer Time
Radiant Positions at 03:00 Local Summer Time
These sources of meteoric activity are expected to be active this week
.
The alpha Capricornids (CAP) are active from July 3 through August 13, peaking on July 31st. The radiant is currently located at 19:04 (286) -15. This position lies in northeastern Sagittarius, 3 degrees northwest of the 4th magnitude star known as Rho1 Sagittarii. Current rates are expected to be less than 1 per hour no matter your location. These meteors are best seen near 01:00 Local Summer Time (LST), when the radiant lies highest in the southern sky. With an entry velocity of 23 km/sec., the average meteor from this source would be of medium-slow velocity.
The large Anthelion (ANT) radiant is currently centered at 19:48 (297) -20. This position lies in eastern Sagittarius, 1 degree south of the faint star known as 58 Sagittarii. This radiant is best placed near 01:00 LST when it lies on the meridian and is highest in the southern sky. Rates at this time should be less than 1 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and 1 per hour as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec., the average Anthelion meteor would be of medium-slow velocity.
The July Pegasids (JPE) are active from July 4-14 with maximum activity occurring on July 10th. The radiant is currently located at 22:52 (343) +10. This area of the sky is located in southern Pegasus, near the faint star known as sigma Pegasi. This radiant is best seen during the last dark hour of the night when the radiant lies highest in the southern sky. Rates are expected to be near than 1 per hour this week no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 63 km/sec., the average meteor from this source would be of swift velocity.
Sporadic meteors are those meteors that cannot be associated with any known meteor shower. All meteor showers are evolving and disperse over time to the point where they are no longer recognizable. Away from the peaks of the major annual showers, these sporadic meteors make up the bulk of the activity seen each night. As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see during this period approximately 4 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn as seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near 1 per hour. As seen from the tropical southern latitudes (25S), morning rates would be near 4 per hour as seen from rural observing sites and 1 per hour during the evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see activity between these listed figures. Rates are reduced due to moonlight.
The list below offers information in tabular form. Rates and positions in the table are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning.
SHOWER
DATE OF MAXIMUM ACTIVITY
CELESTIAL POSITION
ENTRY VELOCITY
CULMINATION
HOURLY RATE
CLASS
RA (RA in Deg.) DEC
Km/Sec
Local Summer Time
North-South
alpha Capricornids (CAP)
Jul 31
19:04 (286) -16
23
02:00
<1 – <1
II
Anthelion (ANT)
–
19:48 (297) -20
30
02:00
<1 – 1
II
July Pegasids (JPG)
Jul 10
22:52 (343) +10
63
05:00
<1 – <1
II
Class Explanation: A scale to group meteor showers by their intensity:
Class I: the strongest annual showers with Zenith Hourly Rates normally ten or better.
Class II: reliable minor showers with ZHR’s normally two to ten.
Class III: showers that do not provide annual activity. These showers are rarely active yet have the potential to produce a major display on occasion.
Class IV: weak minor showers with ZHR’s rarely exceeding two. The study of these showers is best left to experienced observers who use plotting and angular velocity estimates to determine shower association. These weak showers are also good targets for video and photographic work. Observers with less experience are urged to limit their shower associations to showers with a rating of I to III.
