draconids

Draconids, also known as the Giacobinids, are a meteor shower that appears annually in October. The shower is associated with the comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, which was discovered in 1900. The comet itself is relatively small, with a nucleus about 2 kilometers in diameter. As it orbits the sun, it leaves behind a trail of dust and debris. When Earth passes through this debris stream, these particles enter our atmosphere at high speeds, burning up and creating the streaks of light we see as meteors.

The Draconids are known for their unpredictable nature. While typically a minor shower, they have produced spectacular outbursts in the past, most notably in 1933 and 1946, when thousands of meteors were observed per hour. These outbursts occur when Earth passes through a denser, younger stream of debris shed by the comet. The peak activity of the Draconids usually falls around October 8th or 9th, though this can vary slightly from year to year. Due to the shower's origin near the constellation Draco, the meteors appear to radiate from that part of the sky, although they can be seen across the entire celestial sphere. Observing conditions are best in the Northern Hemisphere, away from light pollution.