Draconid Meteor Shower Peaks Oct. 7

The Draconid meteor shower, named after constellation Draco from which it seems to appear, peaks Friday and Saturday night.

Unlike most meteors showers, peak viewing time for the Draconids is between sunset and midnight. EarthSkynotes that that the meteor shower is predicted to produce the greatest number of meteors Oct. 7, however it will still be a modest display. Saturday, Oct. 8 will feature some meteors as well.

While the meteor shower appears to originate from the constellation Draco, it is actually caused by the Earth drifting through a cloud of debris left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, according to CNET. Viewing will be most favorable in the northern hemisphere.

Though the showers are not considered "spectacular," the Draconids are still a striking sight to see. Below is a video from last year's Draconid shower:

Though modest, Slooh notes that that the showers have peaked from time to time and as recently as 2011. The meteors may appear anywhere in the sky so be sure to look skyward. And you can always watch a live stream of the shower on Slooh. If you're unsatisfied with the Draconids, the Orionids meteor shower peaks Oct. 21.

Image Credit: NASA