October 6 – October 10 · Draco
Draconids
An evening shower with rare storms
See the Draconids from your location
See the exact local peak time and how high the radiant climbs from where you are.
What is the Draconids meteor shower?
An oddity: the Draconids are best in the evening rather than after midnight, and are usually quiet — but every few decades the shower erupts into a spectacular storm of thousands of slow meteors.
When do the Draconids peak in 2026?
The Draconids peak on the night of October 8, 2026. Under ideal dark skies with the radiant high overhead they can produce up to 10 meteors an hour — the number you'll actually see depends on your latitude, the moon, and how dark your sky is.
Draconids at a glance
Where the Draconids come from
The Draconids are debris shed by 21P/Giacobini–Zinner, a comet. Each year the Earth ploughs through this ancient trail of dust and the specks burn up in our atmosphere as meteors.
How to watch the Draconids
Get away from city lights
Light pollution is the enemy. A dark rural sky can turn a handful of meteors into dozens.
Look up after midnight
Most showers are best between midnight and dawn, when your side of Earth turns to face the debris stream head-on.
Let your eyes adapt
Give your eyes 20 minutes in the dark and put the phone away. Then just watch — meteors can streak across any part of the sky.
Common questions about the Draconids
When do the Draconids peak in 2026?+
The Draconids reach their maximum on the night of October 8, 2026, though a few meteors are visible from October 6 – October 10.
Where should I look to see the Draconids?+
The meteors radiate from the constellation Draco, but they streak across the whole sky — you don't need to find the radiant. Just face the darkest part of your sky and take in as much of it as you can.
Do I need a telescope to watch the Draconids?+
No. Meteor showers are a naked-eye event — a telescope's narrow view would only work against you. All you need is a dark sky, a reclining chair, and some patience.
What causes the Draconids?+
The Draconids happen when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by 21P/Giacobini–Zinner. The dust grains hit our atmosphere at 20 km/s and burn up as bright streaks of light.
Other meteor showers
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