The Alpha Capricornids
Next peak: . The Moon will be 4% lit (waning crescent), a good year for this shower.
- Active
- 07/03 to 08/15 (month/day)
- Peak rate (ZHR)
- 5 per hour
- Radiant
- RA 307°, Dec -10°
- Speed
- 23 km/s (slow)
- Peak solar longitude
- 128°
- Parent body
- comet 169P/NEAT
About the Alpha Capricornids
A low-rate shower known for slow, bright meteors and occasional fireballs. It peaks at the same time as the Southern Delta Aquariids, and the two can be told apart by speed: Capricornids drift across the sky noticeably more slowly.
When and where to look. The radiant in Capricornus is well placed around midnight in late July from both hemispheres. Expect only a handful per hour, but bright ones.
Best viewing on the peak night
| City | Night of | Best time (local) | Radiant height | Rough rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | Sat 31 Jul | 28° | up to ~2/h | |
| New York | Sat 31 Jul | 39° | up to ~3/h | |
| Los Angeles | Sat 31 Jul | 46° | up to ~4/h | |
| Singapore | Sat 31 Jul | 79° | up to ~5/h | |
| Sydney | Sat 31 Jul | 66° | up to ~5/h | |
| Cape Town | Sat 31 Jul | 66° | up to ~5/h |
Rough rate = ZHR × sine of the radiant altitude, at the darkest hour with the radiant highest. Light pollution and moonlight reduce it further.
Peak dates by year
| Year | Peak (UTC) | Moon |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39% | |
| 2026 | 96% | |
| 2027 | 4% | |
| 2028 | 74% |
Computed as the moment the Sun reaches ecliptic longitude 128° (equinox J2000), the peak position in the IMO working list.
