Unlock the Magic: Everything You Need to Know About Summer Meteor Showers and Shooting Stars.

This month brings excitement for skywatchers, as three meteor showers are active simultaneously. The annual alpha Capricornids, the Southern delta Aquariids, and the Perseids are all ongoing and will continue until mid-August, providing ample opportunities for those keen on spotting shooting stars during summer nights.

The alpha Capricornids and Southern delta Aquariids will reach their peak from July 29 to 30. Meanwhile, the Perseids, known for being one of the most reliable meteor displays, will peak next month.

This July, conditions for viewing are likely to be favorable, according to the American Meteor Society. The alpha Capricornids are not known for a high volume of meteors but can showcase some impressive fireballs.

At peak times, under dark, clear skies, viewers might see about five shooting stars per hour. The meteors originate from the constellation Capricorn and are the result of Earth’s passage through debris from comet 169P/NEAT, which orbits the sun every 4.2 years.

This year, the moon’s illumination will be only 27% full, enhancing viewing conditions for those on both sides of the equator. The Southern delta Aquariids, best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, can produce up to 25 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.

However, these meteors tend to be fainter and are best seen in the early morning hours. This shower is linked to fragments of comet 96P/Machholz, which has a 5.2-year orbit around the sun.

Finally, the Perseids are anticipated to peak overnight from August 12 to 13. Typically, they can produce up to 100 meteors per hour under perfect conditions.

This year, however, the moon will be about 84% full, greatly diminishing visibility and likely reducing the number of visible meteors. The Perseids occur when Earth moves through debris from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.