Draconids 2025

Meteor shower from 21P/Giacobini-Zinner · up to 10 meteors per hour

Next peak (showing UTC)

Active
to
Moon at peak
98% lit
Speed
20 km/s

Choose a location to see how high the radiant climbs from your city.

About the Draconids

The Draconids are caused by Earth crossing the trail of dust left by 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. The meteors appear to stream from a point called the radiant, at right ascension 262° and declination 54°, and hit the atmosphere at about 20 km/s. The peak is defined by the Sun's ecliptic longitude of 195.4°, which is why the date shifts slightly from year to year.

The zenithal hourly rate of 10 assumes a perfectly dark sky with the radiant overhead. From most locations expect fewer, and far fewer if the Moon is bright. With a far-northern radiant this shower is best from mid-northern latitudes and poor from the southern hemisphere.

Upcoming peaks

YearPeak (UTC)ActiveMoon at peak
2025 to 98%
2026 to 4%
2027 to 63%
2028 to 82%
2029 to 1%
2030 to 92%
2031 to 46%

Choose your location

Moon times, dates and names depend on where you are. Pick a city; we will remember it.

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