On the nights of October 8-10, 2022, the Draconid Meteor Shower will peak. According to EarthSky, this is an annual meteor shower and happens when “Earth crosses the orbital path of Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. Debris left behind by this comet collides with the Earth’s upper atmosphere to burn up as Draconid meteors. This comet has an orbital period of about 6.6 years.”

Normally, this meteor shower is a “sleepy shower” meaning that it only produces 5-10 meteors per hour. Unfortunately, there is a full moon on October 9th this year, drowning most of Draconids from view. However, there is a very rare possibility that the Draco could spew forth many hundreds of meteors in a single hour. This possibility keeps many on the lookout, even during the moonlight, according to EarthSky.

The best times to watch the Draconids fly through the air is at nightfall and early evening of October 8th as the radiant is highest in the sky during those times. As the darkness falls, you are more likely to see the Draconids in the sky. 

Most Draconids are viewed best from the Northern Hemisphere as the radiant point basically coincides with the constellation, Draco the Dragon, in the northern sky. To be able to watch this meteor shower, you don’t need any special equipment or skills, just a lot of patience and a clear sky! To maximize your shooting star viewing experience, you can follow these tips: find a concealed viewing spot, far away from any city lights, give yourself an extra 15-20 minutes beforehand for your eyes to get used to the darkness, and once you have decided on a viewing spot, lay on the ground and find the direction of the radiant, making it more likely for you to  see the Draconids. You will also more likely see more Draconids if the radiant is above the horizon, according to timeanddate. 

So gather your warm clothes and comfy blanket, and go outside to watch out for the Draconids shooting through the sky while it’s alive in the October nights!