Get ready, stargazers! This summer, a cosmic spectacle is set to dazzle the night sky as the Southern Delta Aquariid and Alpha Capricornid meteor showers peak simultaneously in the early hours of July 30.

With the moon only partially illuminated at a quarter full, observers will have a prime opportunity to witness these breathtaking meteor displays, especially in areas far from city lights where the meteors will shine bright and clear.

Expect to see up to a dozen meteors per hour from each shower under ideal dark-sky conditions, meaning you could be treated to a sky filled with shooting stars! "Look for flashes of light in the night sky," suggests Thaddeus LaCoursiere, a planetarium program coordinator at the Bell Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota. He describes both meteor showers as classic performances worth your time.

The slower-moving Alpha Capricornids are particularly interesting, as they may leave longer-lasting trails in the sky, making them easier to spot, according to Nick Moskovitz from the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.

But what exactly is a meteor shower? As Earth orbits the sun, it traverses debris left behind by comets and asteroids. The Delta Aquariids originate from the remnants of comet 96P/Machholz, while the Alpha Capricornids come from comet 169P/NEAT. When these celestial rocks enter our atmosphere, they heat up rapidly, creating those stunning streaks of light we call shooting stars.

Viewing these meteor showers doesn’t require any special equipment—just find a dark spot away from artificial light! The best time to catch the action is typically in the predawn hours when the moon is at its lowest. Remember, your eyes will adjust best to the dark sky if you put away your phone and simply look up.

And if you’re wondering when the next night sky event will occur, prepare for the Perseids meteor shower, which will peak in mid-August.

So mark your calendars for July 30, grab a blanket, and prepare for a night of cosmic wonder!