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If you've always dreamed of spotting a shooting star, this week could be the perfect opportunity to tick it off your bucket list.

Not just one, but two meteor showers are set to peak on the same night, producing up to 30 shooting stars every hour.

Both the Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids are expected to reach maximum activity overnight on Thursday into Friday.

These displays occur each year as Earth passes through streams of dust and debris left behind by two comets.

As the tiny particles burn up high in the atmosphere, they leave brief streaks of light known as shooting stars.

Unfortunately, this year's peak comes just one night after July's full Buck moon, meaning its bright light will wash out many of the fainter meteors.

However, the Alpha Capricornids are famous for producing spectacular fireballs, with larger fragments creating dazzling, long-lasting streaks across the sky.

While the meteor showers are best seen from the Southern Hemisphere, skygazers in the UK should still be able to catch a glimpse of some shooting stars.

A shooting star from the Southern Delta Aquariids pictured from Sydney in 2022. It is set to peak on Thursday night into Friday

Like with most meteor showers, the Delta Aquariids get their name from the constellation in the night sky that they appear to radiate from – the constellation of Aquarius near the bright star Delta Aquarii.

Meanwhile the Alpha Capricornids appear to originate from the constellation Capricornus.

For those in the UK wanting to spot them, the best time to head outside is after midnight on Thursday, when both constellations climb higher above the southern horizon, and find a clear view of the southern sky.

Although the meteors appear to radiate from Aquarius and Capricornus, you don't need to stare directly at either constellation.

Instead, astronomers recommend looking around 40 to 60 degrees away from the radiant, where the meteors' glowing trails tend to appear longer and more dramatic.

Since the moon will still be 98 per cent full during the meteor shower peaks, it's best to find a location as far away as possible from streetlights and other sources of light pollution.

Allow your eyes at least 20 to 30 minutes to adapt to the darkness, avoiding looking at your phone or other bright screens.

Rather than using binoculars or a telescope, simply lie back in a reclining chair or on a blanket, as the naked eye gives you the widest possible view of the sky.

Comet 96P Machholz, which orbits the Sun about every six years, is suspected to cause the Southern Delta Aquariids meteor showers

Unfortunately, this year's peak comes just one night after July's full Buck moon, meaning its bright light will wash out many of the fainter meteors. Pictured: The nearly-full moon rises above Richmond Park in London on Monday morning

| Shower name | Peak date | Meteors per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Capricornids | 30 July | 5 |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | 30 July | 25 |
| Perseids | 13 August | 150 |
| Draconids | 9 October | 10 |
| Orionids | 21 October | 15 |
| Taurids | 10 October | 5 |
| Leonids | 18 November | 15 |
| Geminids | 14 December | 120 |
| Ursids | 22 December | 10 |

With the bright moon likely to wash out many fainter meteors this year, it's also worth positioning yourself so that a building, tree or hill blocks the moonlight while keeping as much of the sky visible as possible.

Patience is key, as meteors often arrive in bursts followed by quieter periods, so spending at least an hour outside will give you the best chance of seeing one.

'The Alpha Capricornids are active from July 12 through August 12 with a 'plateau-like' maximum centered on July 31st', the American Meteor Society explains.

'This shower is not very strong and rarely produces in excess of five shower members per hour.

'What is notable about this shower is the number of bright fireballs produced during its activity period.

'This shower is seen equally well on either side of the equator.'

It describes the Southern Delta Aquariids as 'another strong shower', but added: 'These are usually faint meteors that lack both persistent trains and fireballs.'

And it warned: 'In 2026, the full moon occurs only two days prior to the peak therefore activity will be severely compromised by the bright moonlight.'

Skywatchers won't have to wait long for the next celestial display, with the Perseid meteor shower set to peak on the nights of August 12 and 13.

Widely regarded as the best meteor shower of the year, the Perseids can produce up to 100 meteors an hour under ideal dark-sky conditions and are famous for their bright, fast-moving shooting stars.

Later in the year, the Orionids will peak in late October, followed by the Leonids in mid-November and the Geminids in mid-December, which are often considered the year's most spectacular display.

Provided skies are clear, all three meteor showers will be visible across the UK, giving stargazers plenty more opportunities to catch a shooting star before the year is out.