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Meteor showers
Draconids meteor shower 2026 and 2027
The Draconids are active 6 – 10 October each year, with a peak rate of about 10 meteors an hour under perfect dark skies. They come from comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner. In 2027 the peak falls on 8 October, with bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
Draconids peak dates for the UK
Peak times are worked out from the Sun's position along its path (the solar longitude the International Meteor Organization gives for the peak), so they are accurate to within a few hours. Real peaks can arrive early or late. 'Best time' is the hour when the radiant is highest while the sky is properly dark.
| Year | Peak (UK time) | Moon at peak | Best time from London |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thu 8 October (around 17:13 BST) | Waning crescent, 4% lit | 20:00 BST, radiant about 66° up |
| 2027 | Fri 8 October (around 23:00 BST) | Waxing gibbous, 63% lit | 20:00 BST, radiant about 67° up |
What to expect
The rate of about 10 an hour is the zenithal hourly rate, a figure for a perfectly dark sky with the radiant overhead. From a UK garden you will usually see a third to a half of that, fewer near towns or under moonlight. Draconids enter the atmosphere at about 20 km per second.
Unusually, the radiant is highest in the evening, so this is a shower for early night rather than the small hours.
History and origin
Usually a quiet shower of slow meteors, the Draconids have produced storms of thousands an hour, notably in 1933 and 1946, when the parent comet's dust trails were in Earth's path.
The meteors are specks of dust shed by comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner. When Earth crosses that dust each year, the grains burn up about 80 to 100 km overhead.
How to watch
- Find somewhere away from streetlights, ideally with a wide view of the sky. Our UK dark sky spots by county list designated places near you.
- Give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt, and keep your phone on a dim red screen.
- Lie back on a reclining chair and look about two-thirds of the way up the sky, not straight at the radiant.
- Dress for twice as cold as you expect, and bring a hot drink.
- Check the moon calendar for the phase, and the weather forecast for cloud.
Folklore and tradition
Shooting stars have long been seen as signs. A common British wish custom is to make a wish before the meteor fades and keep it secret. Others saw them as souls passing, or as a sign of good luck for the year. We share these as folklore, part of why people have always loved a night under the stars.
For a night under the stars
Questions answered
When do the Draconids peak in 2027?
Around 8 October 2027, near 23:00 BST UK time. Watch the nights either side too.
How many Draconids will I see?
The peak rate is about 10 an hour under perfect skies. From a typical UK site, expect a fraction of that, depending on darkness and moonlight.
Will the moon spoil the Draconids in 2027?
At the 2027 peak the moon is 63% lit (waxing gibbous), so expect bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
What causes the Draconids?
Dust from comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner, burning up as Earth passes through it.
Do I need a telescope to see the Draconids?
No. Meteors move too fast and across too much of the sky. Your eyes are the best instrument.
Key facts (summary)
- The Draconids are active 6 – 10 October each year, with a peak rate of about 10 meteors an hour under perfect dark skies.
- Around 8 October 2027, near 23:00 BST UK time.
- The peak rate is about 10 an hour under perfect skies.
- At the 2027 peak the moon is 63% lit (waxing gibbous), so expect bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
- Dust from comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner, burning up as Earth passes through it.
- No.
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