On the last night of July, it will be worth looking up at the sky: on the night of July 30–31, two meteor showers—the Southern Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids—will both reach their peak activity at the same time. Although the light of the nearly full moon will somewhat diminish the spectacle, according to the Svábhegy Observatory, you can still expect to see 10–15 shooting stars per hour.

Two different meteor showers, two different experiences

The two meteor showers are quite different in character. The Southern Delta Aquarids are known for their fast meteors that leave delicate trails of light as they streak across the sky almost silently. The Alpha Capricornids, on the other hand, occur less frequently but occasionally produce extremely bright meteors—so-called fireballs—that can be spectacular even in the strong light of the Moon.

According to experts, neither a telescope nor binoculars are needed to observe them: all you need to do is find a dark spot away from light pollution and patiently watch the sky.

The Moon Won’t Be Helping This Time

This year’s peak will be slightly overshadowed by the fact that the Moon will be near full, so its bright light will dim the fainter meteors. In addition, the radiant of the two meteor showers—that is, the point from which the shooting stars appear to originate—is located relatively low above the horizon.

Despite all this, experts say it’s still worth taking the time to observe the sky, because the brighter meteors and the spectacular fireballs of the Alpha Capricornids can easily make for a memorable evening.

A Hungarian astronomer discovered one of the meteor showers

Few people know that the Alpha Capricornid meteor shower was discovered in 1871 by the world-famous Hungarian astronomer Miklós Konkoly Thege in Ógyalla. His name is still honored today by the HUN-REN CSFK Miklós Konkoly Thege Astronomical Institute, which includes the Svábhegy Observatory.

A Special Astronomy Evening in Budapest

In connection with this phenomenon, the Svábhegy Observatory is preparing a full evening program on July 31.

The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. with interactive astronomy experiences: visitors can hold real meteorites in their hands, explore the unique world of the planets, and, through spectacular light experiments, learn how astronomers decipher the secrets of celestial bodies from their light.

Concert Under the Full Moon

One of the most special parts of the evening will be a concert by multi-instrumentalist Szabolcs Kövi.

The artist will play meditative melodies on the pan flute, Native American flutes, and other exotic instruments in the observatory’s ancient tree-lined garden, bathed in the light of the rising moon. The organizers promise a picnic-like atmosphere, so it’s a good idea to bring a blanket.

Telescope Observations and Shooting Star Hunting

Following the concert, the program continues at several locations. Visitors can observe the Moon’s craters and the massive impact basin of Mare Crisium at 200x magnification, while star clusters, binary stars, and planetary nebulae in the summer sky are also viewed through telescopes.

However, the best way to observe meteor showers remains the simplest: lie down on a blanket, turn off your phone screen, let your eyes adjust to the darkness, and wait patiently for the next shooting star.

The program titled “An Evening of Music Amid the Romance of the Giant Moon and Two Shooting Star Showers” awaits visitors at the Svábhegy Observatory on July 31 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:55 p.m., with August 2 serving as the rain date.

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