Alpha Capricornids 2026
Low rates but famous for slow, brilliant fireballs; visible from both hemispheres.
Maximum: July 31, 2026 Active: Jul 3 – Aug 15
Viewing from New York
The Alpha Capricornids reach maximum on July 31, 2026, with a peak rate of up to 5 meteors per hour under ideal dark skies (active Jul 3 – Aug 15). A bright 98%-lit Waning Gibbous is up through much of the peak night and will drown out all but the brightest meteors. A poor year. Rates stay elevated for several nights either side of the maximum, so you do not need to catch the exact peak night.
Nominal ZHR
5/hr
Moon
98% Waning Gibbous
Moon interference
Significant (bad)
Moon conditions computed for New York, 2026.
About the Alpha Capricornids
Active
Jul 3 – Aug 15
Radiant (J2000)
20h 28m, -10°
Velocity
23 km/s
Nominal ZHR
5 / hour
Population index
r = 2.5
Parent body
Comet 169P/NEAT
The date of maximum is taken from the IMO Working List of Visual Meteor Showers; the radiant, velocity and parent body come from the IAU Meteor Data Center. Only the Moon phase and interference are computed for the year and location shown.