Meteor shower August Draconids — observing times and guide
August Draconids visibility on 2026-10-16
August Draconids rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| August Draconids radiant is always above the horizon | ||
Moonrise, 18% illuminated  | 10:26 | 37° |
| August Draconids radiant transit | 15:36 | 68° |
| Sunset | 16:29 | 67° |
| Civil sunset | 16:56 | 65° |
| Twilight start (−12°) | 17:27 | 62° |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 17:57 | 59° |
| August Draconids radiant is always above the horizon | ||
| Moonset | 19:34 | 47° |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 03:50 | 6° |
| Twilight end (−12°) | 04:20 | 7° |
| Civil sunrise | 04:50 | 8° |
| Sunrise | 05:18 | 9° |
Track August Draconids position throughout the night
← 16 October 2026 →
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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 | - | August 14 | - |
| 2015 | August 13 | August 16 | August 19 |
| 2022 | 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.