The latter half of July is soaked in the celestial with an astounding three meteor showers lighting up the sky.
Both the Alpha Capricornids and the Southern Delta Aquariids peak between July 29-30 and will be joined by the star fall of the Perseids.
While the Perseids shower technically peaks around August 12th, the light pollution from the full Sturgeon Moon on August 9th makes the end of July a prime time to see a fat stack of star streaks.
Triple meteor shower this week
A meteor shower occurs when the Earth’s orbit intersects with the cloud of debris left by an asteroid or comet.
When we collide with that cloud, these glorious remnants, AKA space trash, burn and fall due to the conditions of atmospheric entry. Their immolation creates the glowing trials and fireballs that call the eye up and the mind to awe.
Most meteor showers, with the noted exception of the Geminids, originate from comets.
The Alpha Capricornids
The Alpha Capricornids are the byproduct of the comet 169/NEAT that orbits the Sun once every 4.2 years. Their radiant point, or place in the sky from which they appear to originate, is, as the name implies, in the constellation of Capricorn.
The Alpha Capricornids are not a prolific shower (they only produce five meteors per hour at their peak), but what they lack in number, they make up for in strength as they shine exceptionally bright against the night sky. This is particularly true during this year’s peak, which will occur when the Moon is at minimal illumination, amplifying their visibility.
The best time to peep this shower is in the evening, around 10:00 PM local time.
The Southern Delta Aquariids
The Southern Delta Aquariids, active for around six weeks, from mid-July to late August, are born to burn from the short-period comet 96P/Macholz, which orbits the Sun once every 5.27 years. The radiant point of this shower is in the constellation Aquarius.
This shower produces a fair share of meteors in its 48-hour peak window (somewhere between 20 to 25 per hour), but these streaks are faint with weak trails. However, in 2025, the peak coincides with the waxing crescent Moon, which sets before the radiation is high, meaning viewing conditions are better than usual, mainly between midnight and dawn.
The Southern Delta Aquariids have been known to surprise viewers; in 1977 and 2003, the showers resulted in “outbursts,” meaning a stronger show than usual is possible this week.
Where can I see the Perseid meteor shower?
The powerful Perseid meteor shower comes from the comet formerly known as Swift-Tuttle, formally designated 109P/Swift–Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 133 years.
Among the finest sky shows in our solar system, the Perseids will be visible throughout the US and most of the Northern Hemisphere through August, but due to the phase of the Moon, this week offers prime sky conditions for viewing them.
The Perseids have a radiant near the constellations of Perseus, Cassiopeia and Camelopardalis.
Meteor shower July 29th: where and when to watch
Under clear skies and away from the maddening glare of light pollution, these showers will be visible to the naked eye. While many people will reach for a telescope or binoculars, it is better to take in the entirety of the sky rather than a small part.
Dim the brightness on your phone and use a sky scanning app like Star Walk to keep an eye out for when each constellation is due to rise and meteors are projected to paint the night.
Start your viewing around 10 P.M., and if you want to see as much of the show as possible, keep an eye on the sky until dawn breaks.
Look up, wish well, and feel the gravity of being both cosmic and creaturely, infinitesimal and infinite.
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.
