Draconids
Also called: Giacobinids, October Draconids
Usually a weak shower in early October that can erupt into a spectacular outburst, and unlike most showers, it is best in the evening.
- Type
- Meteor Showers
- Best season
- Autumn
- Gear
- Naked eye
- When to look
- Peak around October 8–9; best in the early evening
- Typical rate
- Usually about 10 an hour or fewer, with rare outbursts of hundreds
- Source
- Comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner
- Radiant
- In Draco, high in the northwest after dusk
- Best for
- Early evening, away from the Moon
What you will see
- Slow, faint meteors in a typical year.
- In an outburst year, many meteors an hour in the early evening.
- Meteors that move more slowly than most showers.
How to watch
- Get away from city lights to a dark site with a wide view of the sky, and lie back in a reclining chair or on a pad.
- Let your eyes adapt to the dark for 20 to 30 minutes and keep white light and phone screens off.
- Look at the whole sky rather than staring at one spot, since meteors can appear anywhere.
- Start right after dark, when the radiant is high.
- Check news for outburst forecasts, since most years are quiet.
Constellations to know
Field notes
Most years the Draconids are barely noticeable, but they have produced storms in the past. It is one of the few showers that you can watch in the early evening.
Related guides
Dates and times repeat from year to year but shift slightly, and the Moon's phase and the planets' positions are different every year. Check a current source such as NASA, the American Meteor Society, or a stargazing app before you plan a night out, and check the weather forecast for clear skies.