Want to see some fireballs? Get ready for this meteor shower

The Alpha Capricornids meteor shower will soon begin, but your view of it will depend on where you are in the world.

The meteor shower rarely produces more than 5 meteors an hour, according to the American Meteor Society. Although the meteors for this shower are very low, the ones it does produce are known as fireballs, which are very bright meteors that shoot across the sky.

The Alpha Capricornids shower is just one of three showers beginning in July. On Sunday, July 12, the Southern Delta Aquarids will begin, followed by the Perseids meteor shower on Friday, July 17.

Here's what you should know about the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower and what to expect.

When will the Alpha Capricornids begin and end?

The meteor shower will begin on Friday, July 3, and end on Aug. 15.

When will the Alpha Capricornids peak?

The meteor shower is set to peak from the night of July 30 into the morning of July 31, meaning it will produce the most meteors around this time.

The showers are set to peak after the full moon on July 29, according to the American Meteor Society. The moon's light will severely impact spectators' view and make it harder to see the meteor showers.

Where is the Alpha Capricornids shower visible?

The meteor shower can be viewed in the southern and northern hemispheres, according to the American Meteor Society. It will produce around five meteors an hour.

However, once the other meteor shower, Southern Delta Aquarids, begins, people in the southern hemisphere and the southern U.S. will be able to see around 30 meteors an hour from both meteor showers, according to the Museum of Science. This means spectators may see more meteors throughout the night if they are in the optimal viewing location and away from city lights and other light pollution.

Alpha Capricornids set to produce fireballs

While the shower is not known for producing many meteors, the meteors it does produce can be bright and travel slowly across the night sky.

The meteors are "nothing like your everyday shooting star," the Museum of Science stated in a video posted to YouTube. People across the globe may even see more fireballs.

Do you need any equipment to see the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower?

No, onlookers will not need any equipment to see the meteor shower. In fact, you don't even need a telescope or binoculars, according to NASA.

A telescope can limit your view of the night sky. You want to ensure you have a clear view of the entire night sky, especially once multiple showers begin to occur simultaneously, and a falling star can come from any direction.

If you do decide to watch the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower, make sure you do the following:

• Check the weather and cloud coverage in your area to make sure conditions are optimal for viewing the meteor shower
• Find a dark location away from light pollution
• Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark
• Avoid looking at phones or bright lights

To be as comfortable as possible, dress appropriately for the weather, use bug spray, and bring a blanket, a sleeping bag, or a reclining chair to lie on.

2026 meteor show schedule

Here is a list of the other meteor showers set to happen for the rest of the year, according to the American Meteor Society:

• Southern Delta Aquariids - July 12 to Aug. 23; peaks on the night of July 30
• Perseids - July 17 to Aug. 24; peaks on the night of Aug. 12
• Orionids - Oct. 2 to Nov. 7; peaks on the night of Oct. 21
• Southern Taurids - Sept. 20 to Nov. 20; peaks on the night of Nov. 4
• Northern Taurids - Oct. 20 to Dec. 10; peaks on the night of Nov. 11
• Leonids - Nov. 6 to Nov. 30; peaks on the night of Nov. 16
• Geminids - December 4, 2026 to Dec. 17; peaks on the night of Dec. 13
• Ursids - Dec. 17 to Dec. 26; peaks on the night of Dec. 21
• Quadrantids - Dec. 28, 2026 to Jan. 12, 2027; peaks on the night of Jan. 3, 2027

Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected]