Meteor shower December alpha-Draconids — observing times and guide
December alpha-Draconids visibility on 2026-12-03
December alpha-Draconids rise and set timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
Moonrise, 32% illuminated  | 01:17 | -10° |
| December alpha-Draconids radiant transit | 08:43 | 28° |
| Moonset | 13:39 | 7° |
| December alpha-Draconids radiant set | 14:42 | |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 19:07 | -25° |
| December alpha-Draconids radiant rise | 02:40 | |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 04:32 | 13° |
| Twilight end (−12°) | 04:58 | 15° |
| Civil sunrise | 05:24 | 18° |
| Sunrise | 05:47 | 20° |
Track December alpha-Draconids position throughout the night
← 3 December 2026 →
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Moon conditions for December alpha-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 alpha-Draconids
Radiant position:
- Right Ascension: 13h 31m 58s"
- Declination: 62° 18' 00s
Peak activity: Active from November 12 to December 17; with peak activity around December 3.
December alpha-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 18 | December 8 | December 29 |
| 2015 | November 30 | December 8 | December 15 |
| 2022 | November 12 | December 3 | December 16 |
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.