Tonight gives you a Moon-free evening to try the Draconids before their expected peak tomorrow. (Draconids guide)
- Draconids: Try a patient watch after darkness falls, following the 6:35 PM Eastern sunset at our mid-Atlantic reference point. Look across a broad stretch of sky rather than staring at one spot. Evening is a good time for this shower, but it is usually modest, so treat any shooting star as a bonus (sunset table; Draconids guide).
- A thin crescent before dawn: If you are up early, look low in the east after the Moon rises at 4:52 AM Eastern on Thursday, October 8. Its narrow crescent is a more definite target than an unpredictable meteor, provided your horizon is clear (Moon calendar).
Plan ahead: The predicted Draconid peak is around 9 PM Eastern tomorrow, October 8 (01:00 UTC October 9). The Southern Taurids also approach their listed October 10 maximum, bringing another chance for a slow meteor (Draconids guide; Royal Observatory).
Moon note: Waning crescent; next rise is 4:52 AM Eastern on October 8 at our reference location near Allentown, Pennsylvania (Moon calendar).
Enjoy a little time under the sky, and join the free NOOMMED newsletter for your next backyard outing.