By Austin Williams Published July 25, 2025 4:27pm CDT
Stargazers are in for a treat as two meteor showers will peak at the same time before dawn on July 30, creating a rare summer sky double feature.
The Southern Delta Aquariid and Alpha Capricornid meteor showers are expected to produce a combined total of up to two dozen visible meteors per hour in areas with dark skies and minimal light pollution. Because the moon will be just a quarter full, its light shouldn’t interfere much with visibility.
“Look for flashes of light in the night sky,” said Thaddeus LaCoursiere, planetarium program coordinator at the Bell Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota. He described both showers as “very nice classic meteor showers.”
What is a meteor shower?
The backstory:
Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through debris trails left by comets—tiny fragments of dust and rock that burn up upon entering our atmosphere.
- The Southern Delta Aquariids come from the comet 96P/Machholz.
- The Alpha Capricornids originate from comet 169P/NEAT.
As the fragments hit the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, the friction causes them to heat up and glow, sometimes producing streaks known as “shooting stars.”
What we know:
Both meteor showers are already active and will remain visible through August 12, with the early morning of July 30 expected to offer the best viewing.
The Alpha Capricornids tend to feature slower meteors that leave lingering tails, according to Nick Moskovitz of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.
No special equipment is needed—just find a dark, clear location and look up.
What we don’t know:
Exact meteor counts can vary depending on conditions. Cloud cover, haze, and local light pollution may reduce visibility.
It’s also uncertain how widespread the viewing conditions will be across the U.S. on July 30, depending on regional weather forecasts.
What you can do:
To see the meteor showers:
- Head outdoors in the early morning hours before dawn.
- Choose a spot away from city lights with an unobstructed view of the sky.
- Let your eyes adjust to the darkness and avoid looking at your phone—it ruins your night vision.
- No binoculars or telescopes needed; wide views of the sky work best.
What’s next:
If you miss this week’s peak, don’t worry—the Perseids, one of the most anticipated meteor showers of the year, will peak in mid-August and often deliver much higher rates of visible meteors.
