The best viewing for the annual Draconid meteor shower is Monday October 8th—so, tonight— with the best visibility taking place in the early evening. Welcome, Fall showers.


According to Space.com, the Draconids are produced by the Earth passing through a stream of dust attached to the periodic comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, otherwise known as Comet G-Z. The meteors have long inspired flights of fancy, as they appear to come from Draco, a constellation named after a dragon, not your favorite Harry Potter villain. British meteor astronomer Alastair McBeath has said of the event:

“Poets among us might like to think of these as the ‘Dragon’s Tears’ or as its fiery breath.”


You have the best chance of seeing this fantastical display if you’re in the mid-Atlantic or northeast United States, or in the Maritime provinces of eastern Canada. Unfortunately, everywhere else, the peak of the showers is happening basically mid-afternoon. You might see the end of the show as night falls. On the upside, this isn’t a shower you have to stay up until two in the morning for.

You shouldn’t need any special equipment, so if you’re in a good spot on a clear night, just go outside as it gets dark. Meteors can appear anywhere, but it helps to locate Draco; it’s generally in the northwestern sky, moving lower towards the horizon as dawn approaches. Sit back and see if dragon s weep.