Peak rate
10
meteors per hour at peak
UpcomingOct 6 – Oct 10
The Draconids
Slow meteors; rare outburst years can produce hundreds per hour.
Peak: Thursday, October 8, 2026
Countdown to peak
163days
Velocity
20
km/s entering atmosphere
Radiant
Draco
head of the dragon
Best for
North
hemisphere
Where to look
Meteors radiate outward from a single point on the sky. Face Draco, then keep the radiant in your peripheral vision.
RA 260°right ascension
Dec +60°declination
Northern skyfavours north
Where it comes from
Parent body
Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner
The comet or asteroid whose dust Earth passes through each year.
First recorded
1926
Earliest documented observation.
Entry velocity
20 km/s
Speed at which meteoroids hit the atmosphere.
How to watch
Radiant
Draco (head of the dragon)
The apparent point of origin — meteors streak outward from here.
Best viewing time
Early evening
When the radiant is highest above the horizon.
Hemisphere
Northern — best from Europe, N. America, Asia
Latitude bands that see the highest rates.
Did you know
Unusual — best observed in the evening, not after midnight. Massive outbursts in 1933, 1946, 2011.
Watching guide
Tailored for the Draconids.
- 1Get away from city lights
Light pollution hides most meteors. A rural or dark-sky site boosts your count by 5× or more.
- 2Dark-adapt for 20–30 minutes
Your eyes need time to reach peak sensitivity. No phone screens during this window — use a red flashlight if needed.
- 3Aim for the best time: early evening
This shower is unusual — the radiant is highest in the early evening, so you don't need to stay up late.
- 4No telescope, no binoculars
Meteors appear all over the sky — you want the widest view possible. A reclining chair and a blanket are better tools than optics.
Next shower after Draconids
Eta Aquariids · peaks May 6