Meteor shower August Draconids — observing times and guide
August Draconids visibility on 2026-08-21
August Draconids rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| August Draconids radiant is always above the horizon | ||
Moonrise, 49% illuminated  | 12:56 | 29° |
| Sunset | 17:51 | 64° |
| Civil sunset | 18:20 | 67° |
| Twilight start | 18:53 | 68° |
| August Draconids radiant transit | 19:16 | 68° |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 19:27 | 68° |
| August Draconids radiant is always above the horizon | ||
| Moonset | 22:12 | 55° |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 02:54 | 20° |
| Twilight end | 03:29 | 17° |
| Civil sunrise | 04:01 | 14° |
| Sunrise | 04:30 | 12° |
Track August Draconids Position Throughout the Night
← 21 August 2026 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
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Moon conditions for August Draconids — 2026
Meteor visibility depends strongly on the Moon’s position and brightness. This chart helps identify darker observing periods.
Blue and white show night and day; red marks when the radiant is above the horizon, the white line its transit, and grey when the Moon is above the horizon. Select a date for detailed Sun and Moon times.
Observing the August Draconids
Radiant position:
- Right Ascension: 18h 06m 46s"
- Declination: 58° 54' 00s
Peak activity: Active from July 28 to September 11; with peak activity around August 21.
August Draconids — Observation history
Previous activity records show the reported start, peak and end dates. Exact dates may shift slightly from year to year.
| Year | Start date | Peak date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976-02-dd | - | August 14 | - |
| 2015-08-23 | August 13 | August 16 | August 19 |
| 2022-11-16 | July 28 | August 22 | September 12 |
Use these dates as a historical guide and check current predictions near the event.
Data Credits
Meteor data are provided by the International Astronomical Union Meteor Data Center . We thank the observers and researchers who contribute these records.