By Mashable | Created at 2026-10-06 12:30:50 | Updated at 2026-10-06 19:27:52
11 hours ago
The Draconid meteor shower peaks this week, and skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere won't need to stay up late to catch it.
The shower is active from Oct. 6 to 10. According to EarthSky, which cites predictions from the American Meteor Society, the peak is expected around 1 UTC on Oct. 9. That's 9 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 8. EarthSky recommends watching from nightfall on Oct. 8 into the early hours of Oct. 9.
Best time to see the Draconids
Most meteor showers are best after midnight, but the Draconids are an exception. Their radiant, the point in the sky where the meteors appear to originate, sits near the stars Eltanin and Rastaban in the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon. EarthSky notes that this radiant stands highest in the sky as darkness falls and sinks lower as the night goes on, so more meteors tend to appear in the evening.
A viewing table for Chicago shows the radiant at about 75-76 degrees above the horizon at 6 p.m. on Oct. 8. By 1 a.m., it has dropped below 20 degrees.
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How many meteors are expected
The Draconids are usually a modest shower. Star Walk estimates about five meteors per hour at the peak under ideal conditions. EarthSky says observers under a dark sky might see up to 10. Star Walk also notes that Draconid meteors move unusually slowly, often leaving lingering streaks across the sky.
This year's conditions are favorable. The new moon falls on Oct. 10, so only a thin waning crescent will be in the sky, and it doesn't rise until shortly before dawn.
How to watch the Draconids meteor shower
You don't need a telescope or binoculars. Find a dark spot away from city lights, give your eyes 15 to 20 minutes to adjust, and lie back to take in as much of the sky as possible. Star Walk advises against staring directly at the radiant, because meteors close to it have shorter trails. Draconids can appear anywhere in the sky.
Viewers in the Southern Hemisphere will have a harder time. From those latitudes, Draco sits low and sets early, so EarthSky suggests looking as soon as it gets dark and keeping expectations low.
