Draconids on October 8–9, 2026 may produce 5 to 15 flashes per hour

The peak of the Draconids in 2026 is expected on the night of October 9. During this period, astronomers expect 5 to 15 flashes in the sky per hour.

Evgeny Burmistrov called the Draconids the most unpredictable meteor shower in terms of the number of “shooting stars”. It usually behaves modestly, but its history has also included very bright outbursts.

The expert recalled that in 1933, about 350–500 meteors per minute were observed in Europe. In 1998, a brief outburst reached 700 meteors per hour, and it was seen in Siberia and the Far East.

Such instability is linked to the cometary trail: particles of comet dust occupy a small part of the orbit, so the Draconids are observed only for a few days in October. The shower is formed by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, and its radiant is located in the constellation Draco.