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Draconid Meteor Storm Possible This Year!
8 Oct
Summary
- Draconid meteor shower peaks this evening, visible into early morning.
- Waning crescent moon won't obscure the view of 10 meteors per hour.
- Earth passes through debris trail from comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.
The Draconid meteor shower is set to briefly illuminate the night sky tonight, with its peak occurring around 9 p.m. ET. While visible into the early morning hours of Friday, October 9, 2026, the shower is best observed shortly after nightfall. The Draconids are a result of Earth passing through the debris trail left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.
Unlike many other meteor showers, the Draconids are best viewed in the evening due to the radiant point's position. The shower's namesake constellation, Draco the Dragon, lends its name to the meteors that appear to arc from its direction. While typically producing around 10 meteors per hour, there is a possibility of a meteor storm, which could yield hundreds or thousands of visible meteors per hour.
A waning crescent moon is not expected to interfere with viewing conditions. For optimal observation, finding a location away from artificial lights is recommended. Other upcoming meteor showers include the Orionids (October 21-22), Southern Taurids (November 4-5), Northern Taurids (November 11-12), Leonids (November 16-17), Geminids (December 13-14), and Ursids (December 21-22).
