Two meteor showers will peak together overnight on Thursday, July 30, into Friday, July 31 — but skywatchers should expect a moonlit challenge rather than a dazzling display.
Both the Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids reach maximum activity just one night after July's full Buck Moon, which turns full on Wednesday, July 29. According to the American Meteor Society, the moon will still be 98% full during the peaks of those meteor showers, meaning bright moonlight will wash out many of the fainter "shooting stars."
This year, the Southern Delta Aquariids are active from July 12 to Aug. 23 and peak on the night of July 30-31. The meteor shower can result in about 25 shooting stars under ideal dark skies, but the full moon makes this year's timing far from perfect. The Alpha Capricornids, which are active from July 3 to Aug. 15 this year, offer around five meteors per hour on the same peak night. That's not many, but the Alpha Capricornid meteor shower is known for bright fireballs — space rocks that shine brightly, and Read Entire Article
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