Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids set to peak this week
The American Meteor Society says the Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids will reach their maximum activity on Thursday, with additional viewing opportunities from the Perseids later in July.
The Alpha Capricornids meteor shower, which began on July 7 and runs through August 13, is expected to peak on Thursday, according to the American Meteor Society (AMS). The stream typically produces about three meteors per hour and can include bright fireballs. Its radiant is near the double star Alpha Capricorni and rises in the east around 8 p.m. local daylight time, though early visibility is limited by the horizon.
The Southern Delta Aquariids, active from July 19 to August 13, also reach their peak on Thursday. AMS advises observers to look toward the radiant near southwestern Aquarius, just west of Delta Aquarii, which rises around 10 p.m. and is highest near 3 a.m. local daylight time. These meteors are faster, often lasting less than a second, and can produce five to ten per hour in the early morning, with higher rates in the southern hemisphere.
The Perseids, which began on July 17 and continue through the end of the month, are also visible this period. NASA notes they can generate 50 to 100 meteors per hour under dark, clear skies, though the full Moon rising on Wednesday may reduce visibility. AMS recommends waiting until later at night to view the Alpha Capricornids after the Moon sets, and suggests early-morning viewing for the Southern Delta Aquariids.