The Draconid meteor shower is set to peak on Monday evening and into Tuesday morning, and Canadians won’t have to stay up late to catch it. This particular meteor shower occurs in the evening, with the best viewing time being about an hour or an hour-and-a-half after sunset, when the sky is properly dark.
The Draconid shower is caused by the Earth passing through the debris left by the 21P/Giacobini-Zinner comet. While the Draconid typically produces only about 10 meteors per hour, the moon will be at just 27 per cent illumination, making it easier to see the meteors. The Draco constellation, from which the Draconid shower appears to emanate, is well-placed overhead for Canadians, making this a good meteor shower for people across the country to observe.
After the Draconid, stargazers should keep an eye out for the Geminid meteor shower, expected to peak around December 13th. This shower is known for producing around 120 meteors per hour, creating a more spectacular light show, even with a full moon anticipated during the event. The Geminid shower is best viewed around 2 a.m. Eastern time.
