Two Meteor Showers Set to Peak This Week Despite Moonlight
WHO:
CNN - Bob Lunsford, report coordinator for the American Meteor Society
CNN - Bill Cooke, lead of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office
WHAT:
FOX Weather - The Southern Delta Aquariids are best seen from the southern tropics.
FOX Weather - The Alpha Capricornids are known for creating bright fireballs.
CNN - The Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids are expected to reach their peaks just one night after the full July Buck Moon.
CNN - The best viewing time for the meteor showers will be between midnight and dawn.
FOX Weather - Two meteor showers, the Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids, are expected to peak overnight from Thursday into Friday.
FOX Weather - The Southern Delta Aquariids are active from July 23 through August 23 and typically produce a steady number of meteors, but they are usually faint.
FOX Weather - The Alpha Capricornids are active from July 12 through August 12 and rarely produce more than five meteors per hour at their peak.
CNN - The Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower radiates from the Aquarius constellation and produces around two meteors per hour as seen from the Northern Hemisphere.
CNN - The Alpha Capricornid meteor shower radiates from the Capricornus constellation and tends to feature brighter meteors, producing around three meteors per hour from both hemispheres.
FOX Weather - The Perseid meteor shower will peak overnight from August 12 to 13, expected to produce a rate of 100 meteors per hour.
WHERE:
CNN - Observers in the Southern Hemisphere may have a viewing advantage due to the radiant being higher overhead compared to the Northern Hemisphere.
FOX Weather - Observers across the southern U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean will have the best chance of seeing the meteors.
CNN - People in the Southern Hemisphere might have a viewing advantage due to the radiant being higher overhead.
WHEN:
FOX Weather - The full July Buck Moon will occur just before the meteor showers peak.
CNN - The Perseid meteor shower will peak on August 12-13, 2026.
CNN - Upcoming meteor showers include the Orionids on October 21-22, Southern Taurids on November 4-5, Northern Taurids on November 11-12, Leonids on November 16-17, Geminids on December 13-14, and Ursids on December 21-22.
WHY:
CNN - A full moon usually limits visibility of a meteor shower peak around every three years, making it difficult to see the meteors during this event.
HOW:
CNN - To enhance visibility, viewers should position themselves facing northward with the moon at their back to avoid direct moonlight affecting night vision.
FOX Weather - Experts recommend keeping the moon behind you or blocked by an object and looking toward the darkest part of the sky for optimal viewing.
CNN - To get the best vantage point, viewers should position themselves facing northward with the moon at their back.
(UPDATED July 30, 2026 02:51 UTC)
The Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids meteor showers are expected to reach their peaks just one night after the full July Buck Moon, providing a spectacular display for stargazers. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere may have an advantage, as the radiant of these showers will be higher in the sky compared to those in the Northern Hemisphere. For the best viewing experience, it's recommended to face north with the moon at your back to minimize the impact of its light on your night vision.
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(UPDATED July 30, 2026 01:34 UTC)
This week, skywatchers can look forward to two meteor showers peaking overnight from Thursday into Friday, with the Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids both putting on a show. The Southern Delta Aquariids, active from July 23 through August 23, typically produce around two faint meteors per hour, while the Alpha Capricornids, active from July 12 through August 12, are known for their brighter meteors, averaging about three per hour. For those eager to catch the action, the Perseid meteor shower will peak on August 12-13, 2026, promising an impressive rate of up to 100 meteors per hour.