After the first Supermoon of 2025, there’s another spectacular celestial event in store: the Draconid meteor shower. Particularly visible in Northern Hemisphere countries from October 6 to 10, the peak of their activity is scheduled for this Wednesday, October 8.
According to the specialist website Star Walk, this year’s peak brings with it an exciting prediction, to say the least: the possibility of around 150 meteors per hour; although other experts put forward even higher numbers, namely up to 400 meteors per hour.
However, the fact that the meteor shower coincides with the Harvest Moon may affect its visibility, due to the extra light in the sky. In addition, the weather conditions must be conducive to observing these phenomena, which is much more difficult in the presence of fog.
Next ‘big explosion’ in 2078?
According to the BBC, the Draconids is not exactly the most popular of meteor showers, also known as shooting stars. In fact, at its peak only up to 5 meteors per hour are usually visible.
The Draconids have not been particularly active in recent years – the best ‘explosions’ occurred in 1933 and 1946,” reads the website of the reputable British media.
Regarding the exceptional predictions for this year, the Star Walk website also mentions that “due to Jupiter’s gravitational perturbations, this could be the last major display of Draconids until 2078“.
How to watch Draconids?
Despite the predictions, we mustn’t forget that they are just that – estimates; which can be defrauded by weather conditions and more.
In any case, take a look at the sky, especially after dark, and wait patiently for the show to begin. Before that, make sure you choose a spot far away from the city’s light pollution. Then wait about 15 minutes until your eyes get used to the darkness.
To better plan your observation, you can use useful apps such as Sky Tonight, among others. If you don’t manage to spot any shooting stars, make a note in your diary – the peak of the Orionids arrives on October 22!
Don’t miss out! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and now also on WhatsApp!