- The Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids are predicted to peak on July 30 and 31.
- The Alpha Capricornids could produce dazzling fireballs, or extremely bright streaks in the sky.
- Here’s how to view both showers.
It’s meteors galore this season, as two meteor showers are expected to peak this weekend, giving North Americans in the south the best views.
The Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids are predicted to peak on July 30 and 31, sending ancient asteroid bits and comet particles streaking across the night sky.
The spectacular Delta Aquariids meteor shower, which converges with the well-known Perseids, has been flying for weeks, but the peak means up to 15 to 20 meteors per hour could appear in a dark sky with no moon, according to EarthSky. The shower itself, however, is set to last until late August.
Although the Aquariids are more visible in the southern hemisphere, Americans, especially those in the south, will still be able to get a glimpse. The best time to see the Delta Aquariid shower is around 2 a.m. when the meteor shower’s radiant is at its highest. The light from these faint meteors may be outshone by a nearly full moon, per EarthSky, but viewing near the moonset can also help offset this.
Meanwhile, the Alpha Capricornids, a less prominent source of meteors, could actually set the sky ablaze. The shower usually results in fewer meteors per hour — around five — but can produce brilliant “fireballs.”
On Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Society, captured seven fireballs from the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower, according to EarthSky.
This shower is set to last until mid-August.
In order to best enjoy the meteor showers, Insider’s Marianne Guenot reports that you should get away from city lights, lay on the ground, and let your eyes adjust to the dark night sky.
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