3 Meteor Showers Will Be Visible in the Night Sky This Week—Here's Where to Catch the Flurry of Shooting Stars

Summer 2023 has been filled with a myriad of celestial events, from a sequence of supermoons to this week's trio of meteor showers. The latest phenomenon taking over the night sky? The Delta Aquariids, one of three currently active showers. It's expected to peak on the evening of July 31, according to EarthSky.org.

Though the meteor shower won't reach its climax for a few more days, it is currently visible to stargazers who wish to catch an early glimpse. The Delta Aquariids, which will release shooting stars up until August 21, is highest around 2 a.m. and lowest by dawn.

The shower is best viewed in the southern tropics, but it can be spotted by those living in lower altitudes on the northern hemisphere. Under ideal conditions, the Delta Aquariids can produce 15 to 30 meteors per hour. Unfortunately, during the shower's peak, the full Sturgeon Moon (the second supermoon of summer) will appear brighter than usual, making the fireballs less visible.

But don't let that get in the way of your stargazing. The Delta Aquariids will be joined by two other meteor showers—the Perseids and the Alpha Capricornids. Together, the trio will put on a spectacular show.

The Perseids are considered to be the most spectacular meteor shower of the year—releasing up to 100 shooting stars per hour. The remarkable shower is best viewed on the northern hemisphere. Additionally, the Alpha Capricornids, which can be seen from anywhere, are also currently active. Although this shower is not very strong (rarely producing more than five meteors per hour), the phenomenon is known for emitting very bright meteors, AMSMeteors.org reports.

All three meteor showers are currently active and can be viewed when the sky is dark. For optimal viewing, travel to a location away from city lights and excess air pollution. Get to your viewing location early and give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the dark.