The Draconid meteor shower, debris from the dusty tail of Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, is likely to peak the evening of October 8. As the Mon is a thin crescent, you have a great chance of catching this brief meteor shower. There are usually only a few meteors per hour associated with this shower, but on rare occasions there have been meteor "storms" with many more visible. A bonus, despite the thin numbers: this is a rare meteor shower that peaks in the early evening, great for folks with early bedtimes!
The Draconids seem to originate, or radiate, from the head of the constellation Draco, the Dragon. In the USA, this radiant point will be high overhead in the early evening, making this a meteor shower best observed in the evening instead of the early morning. As with observing any meteor shower, get to a dark spot, get comfortable, bring blankets to stay warm, and let your eyes adjust to the dark sky. A cozy lounge chair makes for a great seat, as does simply lying on your back on a blanket, eyes scanning the whole sky.
The Draconids seem to originate, or radiate, from the head of the constellation Draco, the Dragon. In the USA, this radiant point will be high overhead in the early evening, making this a meteor shower best observed in the evening instead of the early morning. As with observing any meteor shower, get to a dark spot, get comfortable, bring blankets to stay warm, and let your eyes adjust to the dark sky. A cozy lounge chair makes for a great seat, as does simply lying on your back on a blanket, eyes scanning the whole sky.
The Night Sky Network has a handout that you may find useful for your meteor watching party: Heads Up: It's a Meteor Shower Handout!
Image of the radiant of the Draconid meteor shower, courtesy EarthSky
Date: Friday, October 8, 2021