Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower 2027: UK peak night and best time
8% moon
Peak night: 30–31 Jul 2027 Peak in 285 days
Active 12 Jul – 23 Aug 2027. 12 Jul Peak 23 Aug Best around 02:00, low in the south.
Up to 25 meteors an hour at the peak under a perfectly dark sky; expect fewer in practice. On the peak night, moonlight is no problem: the Moon is only 8% lit.
The Southern Delta Aquariids at a glance
- Radiant
- Aquarius, low in the south
- Parent
- Probably Comet 96P/Machholz
- Meteor speed
- About 41 km/s (91,717 mph)
- Peak rate (ZHR)
- Up to 25 an hour
How many meteors to expect
About 25 meteors an hour under a perfectly dark sky with the radiant high, for a couple of nights around the peak. From the UK the radiant stays low, so you will see only a fraction of that: perhaps a few to ten an hour after midnight. Many are faint, with some brighter ones near the peak.
How to find the radiant
Aquarius is low in the south-east to south in the small hours in late July and early August, below the Square of Pegasus. The radiant is highest around 02:00 but still low from British latitudes, so a flat southern horizon and a site away from towns to the south make the biggest difference.
About the Southern Delta Aquariids
This is one of the best showers of the year from the southern hemisphere, where the radiant passes high overhead. Astronomers think it comes from the Machholz complex of comets and asteroids, led by Comet 96P/Machholz. Rare outbursts of about 40 an hour were reported in 1977 and 2003.
Where to watch the Southern Delta Aquariids in the UK
Get away from street lights to somewhere with a wide view of the sky. Britain’s darkest skies sit over its upland national parks and Dark Sky Parks; each area below lists the peaks with forecasts and stargazing scores.
Southern Delta Aquariids questions
When is the Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower 2027?
The Southern Delta Aquariids are active from 12 July to 23 August 2027 and peak on the night of 30–31 Jul 2027.
What time is best to see the Southern Delta Aquariids?
Best around 02:00, low in the south. On the peak night, moonlight is no problem: the Moon is only 8% lit.
Where should I look to see the Southern Delta Aquariids?
The meteors appear to come from Aquarius, low in the south. Aquarius is low in the south-east to south in the small hours in late July and early August, below the Square of Pegasus. The radiant is highest around 02:00 but still low from British latitudes, so a flat southern horizon and a site away from towns to the south make the biggest difference.
How many Southern Delta Aquariids will I see?
About 25 meteors an hour under a perfectly dark sky with the radiant high, for a couple of nights around the peak. From the UK the radiant stays low, so you will see only a fraction of that: perhaps a few to ten an hour after midnight. Many are faint, with some brighter ones near the peak.
More showers: Quadrantids · Lyrids · Eta Aquariids · Alpha Capricornids · Perseids · Draconids · Orionids · Taurids · Leonids · Geminids · Ursids. Every sky event this year: the UK sky calendar.