Stargaze Tonight

Southern Delta Aquariids 2026: the moon at peak

Jul 31, 2026, 04:11 UTC · Calculated July 26, 2026

98% Poor — a bright moon washes out all but the brightest meteors.

Peak and moon conditions

Peak (UTC)

Jul 31, 2026, 04:11 UTC

Illumination

98%

Full moon

Peak rate (ZHR)

~25/hour

Radiant

Aquarius

Active period

Jul 12 – Aug 23

Peak night by city

For each city: the local time of the peak, and how much of that night is both astronomically dark and free of moonlight.

CityPeak (local time)Astronomical darknessMoon-free darknessMoonriseMoonsetRating
SeoulFri, Jul 31 13:116.5 hNone20:3907:54 (+1)Poor
TokyoFri, Jul 31 13:116.7 hNone19:4507:03 (+1)Poor
New YorkFri, Jul 31 00:115.9 hNone20:5707:45 (+1)Poor
Los AngelesThu, Jul 30 21:116.9 hNone20:4707:59 (+1)Poor
LondonFri, Jul 31 05:112.7 hNone21:2307:14 (+1)Poor
MadridFri, Jul 31 06:116.0 hNone22:1108:52 (+1)Poor
SydneyFri, Jul 31 14:1110.7 h0.1 h18:4708:08 (+1)Poor
São PauloFri, Jul 31 01:1110.4 hNone18:4607:56 (+1)Poor

Why the moon decides a meteor shower

Meteor rates quoted as ZHR assume a perfectly dark sky with the radiant overhead. Real counts fall off fast with sky brightness, and the moon is the one source of sky brightness that is completely predictable years ahead. A full moon near the peak can cut visible meteors by three quarters even under a cloudless sky. That is why the useful question is not “when is the peak” but “where is the moon at the peak” — which is what this page computes.

Other years

Other meteor showers

Get tonight’s answer on your phone

Stargaze Tonight rates tonight’s observing conditions where you are, shows an hour-by-hour darkness strip, and tells you what is actually worth looking at. Free, ad-supported, no subscription.

Download on the App Store

Free with ads. No subscription, no locked features. Requires iPhone with iOS 17 or later.