Overview
- The American Meteor Society and multiple outlets confirm the Delta Aquariids South and the Alpha Capricornids will reach peak activity the night of July 30 into the morning of July 31.
- Moonlight will be a major factor because the July 29 full Moon will be about 98% lit and will wash out many faint meteors across the peak nights.
- Under ideal dark skies the Delta Aquariids typically produce about 15 to 25 meteors per hour and the Alpha Capricornids about five per hour, but those numbers will drop sharply with bright lunar glare.
- Alpha Capricornids are notable for slow, very bright fireballs that can remain visible even with moonlit skies, while Delta Aquariid streaks are usually much fainter.
- For best chances, watch after local midnight from a dark location with eyes adapted for 20 to 30 minutes and no optics, and if July conditions are poor plan for the Perseids on Aug. 12–13 when a new Moon should yield a stronger show of 30 to 50 meteors per hour.