Two Meteor Showers Will Be Visible Tonight—Here's How To See Them
This evening, two meteor showers—one fast and faint, the other slow and fiery—will be putting on a show. From July 29 to 30, the Southern Delta Aquariid and Capricornids meteor showers will reach their peak, lighting up the sky with a sparkly, shimmering display. And the best places to catch the spectacle? The southern and southwestern U.S.—especially states with clear, dry skies like Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida and Southern California.In her most fun and relatable terms, Dr. Neyda Abreu, a Chief Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center, describes these showers as “the Earth getting caught in the middle of an astronomical snowball fight!” But in all seriousness, she adds, "We get to see meteors because they are chunks that broke off from comets and asteroids.”According to Dr. Abreu, comets are made of ice, along with rocky and organic parts. “In other words, giant, very old versions of the kind of snowball you’d get if your fingers dig into the dirt. Asteroids are rocky bodies that may have some water ice in them,” she explains. “When these celestial bodies either get close to the sun or collide with one another, they break up, leaving behind a cloud of debris.” And when Earth collides or passes through that cloud, bits of debris enter the atmosphere.“Oftentimes, the debris breaks apart by a process called ablation, which makes for a bright display of meteors,” she continues. "If a meteor makes it to the ground, the rock that lands on the Earth’s surface is called a meteorite.”These meteor showers can really light up the sky—especially in dark areas with little light pollution. And they come with deep cosmic roots. “Comets and the meteors that broke up from them formed around 4.6 billion years ago, before the Earth was a planet," says Dr. Abreu. "So, when you look at a meteor shower, you are seeing some of the oldest objects in our solar system.”So, how do you watch them, how long do they last, and can you capture them in a photo? We’ve got you covered.Related: What a Wonderful World! 75 Absolutely Fascinating Facts About Planet EarthWhat Two Meteor Showers Will Be Visible Tonight?The Southern Delta Aquariid and Capricornids meteor showers will be visible as they streak through the sky. Both are active in July and August, but they’ll hit their peak between July 29 and 30.What Is the Southern Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower?The Southern Delta Aquariids occur when Earth travels through a trail of debris left behind by Comet 96P/Machholz. As the tiny bits of rock and dust hit our atmosphere, they create streaks of light—meteors, or faint shooting stars—with glowing, extended tails.Related: 101 Science Trivia Questions and Answers To Test Your KnowledgeWhat Is the Capricornids Meteor Shower?The Capricornids appear when Earth passes through debris left by another comet. These meteors are slower, but often brighter—and sometimes burst into fireballs. You won’t see as many as with the Delta Aquariids, but what you do see could be dramatic.When Will the Southern Delta Aquariids Peak?The Southern Delta Aquariids are expected to peak July 29–30, with about 15 to 20 meteors per hour. These fast-moving meteors, known for their glowing trails, come from a comet’s dusty debris. They’re faint but frequent. The best time to watch is just before dawn.When Will the Capricornids Peak?The Capricornids will peak around July 30 and may produce around five meteors per hour. They’re slower and fewer than the Aquariids—but when they show up, they shine. Their fireballs can be bold and beautiful.What’s the Best Way To See These Two Meteor Showers?Dr. Abreu advises that the best time to catch the Capricornids is after midnight. For the Southern Delta Aquariids, aim for the early morning hours before dawn. “But you should be able to see meteors from these showers a couple of weeks before and after their peaks,” she explains. “That is because the Earth will be moving through the cloud of debris left by the comets over a few weeks.” And since Earth will pass through the densest part of that cloud between July 29 and 30, more meteors will light up the sky then.Related: 3, 2, 1, Blast Off! How Long Does It Actually Take To Get to the Moon?How Long Will the Southern Delta Aquariids Last?The Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower is expected to continue through August 12. While the peak falls around July 29–30, you could see up to 20 meteors per hour in the early morning skies throughout that week.How Long Will the Capricornids Last?The Capricornids are expected to last through August 15. These slow-moving meteors often shine brightly and sometimes produce dramatic fireballs.Where in the Sky Should You Look for These Meteors?The name of the shower offers a helpful clue. Dr. Abreu says meteor showers are named for the constellations where their radiant points appear. “Radiant points are the areas of the sky where meteors appear to come from. So, if a meteor shower’s name includes the word ‘Aquariid,’ the meteors will seem to come from the Aquarius constellation,” she explains. “Likewise, if it includes the word ‘Capricornids,’ the meteors will appear to come from Capricorn. Both Aquarius and Capricorn are zodiacal constellations, which means that they are observable along the apparent path of the Sun across the sky.”Dr. Abreu is also quick to clarify that meteors don’t come from stars in those constellations. “They come from the dust and rocky fragments left behind by comets and asteroids, which are objects in this solar system,” she says.Do These Meteor Showers Come from Comets?Yes! Both the Southern Delta Aquariids and Capricornids come from comets. As Dr. Abreu explains, the Southern Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower originates from Comet 96P/Machholz, while the Capricornids come from Comet 169P/NEAT. “One thing that makes these comets special is that they are short-period comets, meaning that we get to see them every few years," she says.What Is the Best Way to Photograph Meteor Showers?The key is the right combination of tools and conditions. Dr. Abreu says the essentials include darkness, time, stability, high sensitivity and a wide-angle lens. Also: steer clear of city lights and the moon. She explains that “time” means using a longer exposure, so set your camera on a tripod or sturdy surface. “A low light setting for your camera will mean that the sensitivity to the flash of light from the ablation of the meteor will be more visible,” she adds. "A wide-angle lens will give you a larger cross-section of the night sky, so a higher probability that you will capture a meteor speeding across the atmosphere.”Up Next:Related: Get Ready for 2025’s First Supermoon—Here’s When To Look Up Later This YearSource:Dr. Neyda Abreu, a Chief Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center
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