Japan's July 31, 2026 Aquarius Southern Meteor Shower Peaks

The Aquarius Southern meteor shower (δ Aquarius) will reach its peak on the night of July 31, 2026, extending into the early hours of August 1 over Japan. The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) reports that the shower’s activity window runs from about 23:00 JST on July 31 to around 03:00 JST on August 1, with a broader observable period from July 29 to August 2.

Observers can expect 1–2 meteors per hour from the Capricornus α shower and up to 5 per hour from the Aquarius Southern shower, though moonlight may reduce visible counts to 2–3. Fireballs – unusually bright meteors – are more common in these small showers. The radiant lies toward the Aquarius constellation, best seen in the south‑east sky, while the Perseus meteor shower is also active.

Viewing tips include finding a dark site away from artificial lights, allowing eyes to adapt for 15–30 minutes, and looking away from the moon. The NAOJ advises that the radiant rises high after midnight, improving visibility.