Meteor shower December kappa-Draconids — observing times and guide
December kappa-Draconids visibility on 2026-12-03
December kappa-Draconids rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
Moonrise, 32% illuminated  | 01:17 | -2° |
| December kappa-Draconids radiant transit | 07:34 | 20° |
| December kappa-Draconids radiant set | 13:34 | |
| Moonset | 13:39 | -0° |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 19:07 | -19° |
| December kappa-Draconids radiant rise | 01:32 | |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 04:32 | 14° |
| Twilight end (−12°) | 04:58 | 15° |
| Civil sunrise | 05:24 | 17° |
| Sunrise | 05:47 | 18° |
Track December kappa-Draconids position throughout the night
← 3 December 2026 →
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Moon conditions for December kappa-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 December kappa-Draconids
Radiant position:
- Right Ascension: 12h 23m 34s"
- Declination: 70° 24' 00s
Peak activity: Active from November 23 to December 11; with peak activity around December 3.
December kappa-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | November 21 | December 2 | December 11 |
| 2015 | December 2 | December 4 | December 7 |
| 2023 | November 24 | December 4 | December 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.