Draconid meteor shower 2021: how and when to watch

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The Draconids are notoriously “sleepy” showers, producing only five meteors per hour in most years, according to EarthSky. This weekend’s shower should be that kind of “slow show,” but American Meteor Society adviser Robert Lunsford said in some years the Draconids have produced thousands of meteors.

“Watching the Draconids is seeing a bit of history because this meteor shower has produced historical events in the past,” Lunsford said.

Draconids are optimal for early risers, as unlike other showers that peak after midnight, this one becomes visible at nightfall, as soon as the sky darkens. It will also be one of the last meteor displays before colder weather arrives in late October and November.

Don’t bother using a telescope, as this will limit your view of the sky. The naked eye is the best instrument to follow these shooting stars. The meteor shower will be sporadic, so grab a lawn chair and plan to sit outside for a while.

For the best view, try to find a location without as much light pollution. The crescent moon, just a shine in the sky, will not obscure the meteor shower this year. Going to a higher elevation and facing north can also help increase visibility.

Looking at the sky on Friday, you might see more satellites than meteors (the latter travel much faster), but Lunsford said it was the perfect opportunity to practice identifying constellations.

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The radiating point of the shower, where the meteors seem to emerge, is at the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon, after which the shower is named. But meteors can appear anywhere in the sky. Residents of the northern hemisphere will have a better view of this meteor shower.

The dragon is not always sleepy. Draconids are classified as variable showers, Lunsford said. While other showers are constant from year to year, variable showers can produce thousands of meteors a year or only a handful the following year.

In 1933 and 1946, the draconid meteor shower produced thousands of meteors per hour, and in 2018, the comet came closest to Earth in 72 years, according to EarthSky.

Fans of the Draconid rain might have a better chance of spying on meteors in 2025. This is when Comet 21P / Giacobini-Zinner, which produces this meteor shower, passes closer to Earth, according to EarthSky. The comet circles the sun every 6.6 years and the debris from this comet creates the draconid meteor shower.

Meteor showers to be expected

If the Draconid Shower is too sleepy for you, there are other meteor showers you can catch during the rest of 2021, according to EarthSky’s Meteor Shower 2021 guide:
  • October 21: Orionides
  • November 4-5: Southern Taurids
  • November 11-12: Taurides du Nord
  • November 17: Leonids
  • December 13-14: Geminids
  • December 22: Ursides

The Orionid meteor shower, which produces faster showers, will peak on the morning of October 21. But since the moon will be almost full, the visibility may not be so clear.

The Taurid Shower, known to appear as glowing fireballs, will peak from early to mid-November. The best time to see the Taurids is after midnight.

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