Starwatch: Draconids meteor shower promises an early-evening treat

Comet responsible for phenomenon passed close to the sun earlier this year, creating high chance of a meteor storm

October is the beginning of the autumn and winter meteor shower season, which culminates in the Geminids in December. This week features the Draconids. It may not be a prominent shower, but it is observer friendly. Unlike most, which peak in the early hours of the morning, the Draconids are best in the early evening.

This is because the shower’s radiant, the point from which the meteors appear to emerge, is highest in the sky as darkness falls. The chart shows the view looking high into the north-western sky from London at 20:00 BST on 8 October, the night of peak activity.