Topline
July closes with two of the celestial highlights of summer — the rise of the full Buck Moon amid “shooting stars” from the Delta Aquariiid meteor shower. The latter peaks under less-than-ideal conditions, but with the Alpha Capricornids and the Perseids all ongoing, it’s definitely meteor season. Early risers get a new planetary target in the shape of tiny Mercury. For North America and mid-northern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week, July 27-August 2, 2026.
Timeline
July’s Buck Moon will turn full at 10:37 a.m. EDT, with the best views at moonrise where you are shortly after sunset across North America and Europe. Tonight, Comet 10P/Tempel 2 will be visible close to the M30 globular cluster, though the best views will be had from the Southern Hemisphere.
The Delta Aquariid and Alpha Capricornid meteor showers reach their peak activity overnight, boasting about 25 and 5 meteors per hour, respectively, according to the American Meteor Society.
Mercury reaches its greatest elongation west, becoming visible briefly before sunrise.
WHEN TO SEE THE FULL ‘BUCK MOON’ RISE
If you have an unobstructed view to the southeast, Wednesday is when to look for one of the wonders of nature — a deep orange full moon appearing on the horizon. A reference to the month when male deer (bucks) begin to grow antlers, the Buck Moon rises exactly two weeks before a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, one of the biggest sky events of the year. It will coincide with the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower, which could see about 50 “shooting stars” per hour in dark skies. Two weeks later, on Aug. 27, the full Sturgeon Moon will rise, with 96% of its surface drifting into Earth’s umbra overnight, causing much of the lunar surface to turn a reddish color during a very deep partial lunar eclipse.
HOW TO WATCH METEORS IN MOONLIGHT
Meteor observing is often framed as a numbers game, but it doesn’t have to be. Even under the bright moonlight produced by the recently full Buck Moon, brighter meteors will still appear — just face away from the moon and, if possible, keep out behind a building or tree. Active from July 12 to Aug. 23, and peaking overnight on July 30-31, the Delta Aquariids are caused by a comet called 96P/Machholz, which leaves a cloud of particles in the inner solar system that Earth’s orbital path passes through. Delta Aquariids can often be faint, but Alpha Capricornids, despite only producing about 5 meteors per hour, can often be bright fireballs.
What’s Next In The Night Sky
On Aug. 12, exactly two weeks after the rise of the full Buck Moon, a new moon will slip perfectly across the sun to cause a total solar eclipse. The path of totality — the moon’s dark shadow — will cross eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, from where the sun’s corona will become visible, if skies are clear, for up to 2 minutes 18 seconds. Across Western Europe and North America, a partial eclipse will be visible. Solar eclipse glasses will be essential throughout the partial eclipse.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
