The Most Exciting Meteor Shower of 2025 Peaks Tonight-and It Could Bring Dramatic Fireballs Across the U.S.

"Oct. 8 marks the peak of the annual Draconid Meteor Shower -a famously unpredictable event that can produce anywhere from a handful to over a thousand shooting stars per hour. The Draconid shower is started on Oct. 6 and lasts through Oct. 10. There are typically 10 meteors per hour visible during its peak, but some experts are predicting a much more dramatic show in the sky this year."

"An even rarer-and more exciting-possibility is a Draconid meteor storm, the likes of which last dazzled stargazers in 1946. With over 1,000 meteors visible per hour, it reportedly looked as if " the stars were falling like rain." Although the Draconids are always suspenseful, the odds of an outburst or storm occurring are slightly higher this year. Because the meteors' parent comet, Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinne, recently reached its closest point to the sun in March 2025, dense, fresh debris could make for a dramatic showing."

"In fact, NASA researchers predicted a "significant outbursts." In addition to being excitingly unpredictable, the Draconids are one of the most convenient showers of the year for casual stargazing. While most showers, like the August Perseids, are best viewed after midnight, the Draconids will be high in the sky much earlier in the evening. The best time to watch the fireballs will be just after sunset on Oct. 8. That means no all-nighters are necessary to witness the potentially historic event."

The Draconid Meteor Shower peaks on Oct. 8 and runs roughly Oct. 6–10. Typical peak rates are about 10 meteors per hour, but the shower is famously unpredictable and can range from a handful to over a thousand meteors per hour during rare outbursts or storms. The parent comet, Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinne, reached perihelion in March 2025, increasing the chance that fresh, dense debris could trigger a significant outburst. NASA researchers predicted significant outbursts. The radiant will be high earlier in the evening, with the best viewing just after sunset on Oct. 8, though bright moonlight could reduce visibility.

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