Two Meteor Showers Peak Under a Bright Moon, But August Offers Better Skywatching

The Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids both peak on the night of July 30-31, but a nearly full moon will dim the view. Skywatchers can look forward to the Perseids and a total solar eclipse in August.

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Two meteor showers will peak on the same night this week, offering a modest show for patient observers — though a bright moon will wash out many of the fainter streaks.

The Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids both reach their maximum activity on the night of July 30-31, 2026 (Thursday night into Friday morning). The Southern Delta Aquariids, active from July 12 to August 23, typically produce about 25 meteors per hour under ideal dark skies. The Alpha Capricornids, which run from July 3 to August 15, are less prolific at roughly 5 meteors per hour, but are known for producing bright fireballs.

Unfortunately, the moon will be nearly full that night. The July full Buck Moon occurs on Wednesday, July 29, and on the peak night the moon will be 98% illuminated, according to the fact sheet. Its glare will hide all but the brightest meteors.

Best viewing time is between midnight and dawn, when the radiant of the Southern Delta Aquariids — located in the constellation Aquarius — is highest in the southern sky. Observers in the southern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean will have a better vantage point than those farther north.

For those willing to wait, August offers two major skywatching events under much darker skies. The Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 12-13, 2026. That night coincides with a new moon on August 12, meaning moonless skies and an expected peak rate of 100 meteors per hour.

Even more spectacular, a total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026. The path of totality crosses eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain. A partial eclipse will be visible from parts of Canada and the northeastern United States.

“The Perseids and the total solar eclipse on the same day are a rare treat for skywatchers,” said Jamie Carter, a freelance science journalist based in Cardiff, U.K., and regular contributor to Live Science.

So while this week's double meteor shower peak is noteworthy, the real celestial highlight is still to come.