Fireballs from two meteor showers will illuminate the night sky this week, offering a spectacle for sky-gazers. The Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids are expected to reach their peak activity on Wednesday night.
The Alpha Capricornids, visible in the Southern Hemisphere, will be most prominent at 1 a.m. ET, producing three to five meteors per hour. Those in the Northern Hemisphere can spot them by keeping an eye low along the southern sky. The shower is caused by debris from the Jupiter-family comet 169P/NEAT.
In contrast, the Southern Delta Aquariids will peak at 3 a.m. ET on Wednesday, with rates of up to 10-15 meteors per hour in the Northern Hemisphere and 20-25 in the Southern Hemisphere. The shower is caused by debris from the Jupiter-family comet P2008/Y12.
While both showers are expected to be visible through August 13, their peak times differ. Experts at the American Meteor Society say Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning is the optimal viewing period, while NASA suggests Wednesday night going into Thursday.
For optimal viewing conditions, avoid areas with bright lights and objects that may obstruct your view of the sky. Higher altitudes like mountains or hills can enhance visibility.
This week’s meteor showers are part of a common phenomenon where multiple showers occur simultaneously. The Alpha Capricornids, Southern Delta Aquariids, and Perseids will be active, offering an opportunity to spot additional meteors not associated with these showers.
These meteor showers originate from debris fields left by Jupiter-family comets. In 200 years, the Alpha Capricornids shower is expected to become one of the strongest visible from Earth, producing over 1,000 meteors per hour.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/29/science/meteor-shower-delta-aquariids-alpha-capricornids