Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids peaked amid near-full moon
Yahoo reported that the Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids peaked around midnight on July 30, producing up to 25 meteors per hour under dark skies. Earlier forecasts had varied on the exact timing: the New York Post said the Southern Delta Aquariids would peak on July 28-29, followed by the Alpha Capricornids on July 30-31, while ABC News noted the showers would reach maximum activity on and mentioned the Perseids later in July.
CNN and FOX Weather both warned that the near-full July Buck Moon would limit visibility, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. These observations came after a series of pre-event notices that highlighted the expected activity levels and the impact of the moon, setting expectations for observers across the United States.