Michigan sky gazers may want to take advantage of the mild October weather on Thursday night, Oct. 8 to watch the Draconids streak through the night sky just after sunset.
The Draconids meteor shower is peaking Oct. 8-9, according to NASA.
"This is an ideal meteor shower for casual skywatchers, since it begins soon after darkness falls rather than in the early morning hours. A nearly new Moon phase means little interference from moonlight, making the shooting stars easier to spot," NASA said.
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Head to one of Michigan's dark sky areas to catch a prime view of the Draconids. Most areas of Michigan should be dry overnight with little to no clouds expected, according to local National Weather Service forecasts.
Here's what to know about the Draconid meteor shower.
When will the Draconids peak?
The Draconid meteor shower is set to peak overnight Oct. 8-9 in Michigan, according to NASA.
What is the Draconid meteor shower?
The Draconids is a slow meteor shower, active from Oct. 6-10, typically featuring 10 meteors per hour and, rarely, hundreds per hour, EarthSky said.
The meteors appear to come from the area of the constellation Draco the Dragon, by the stars Eltanin and Rastaban, according to EarthSky.
When is the best time to view the Draconids?
The Draconids are best viewed in the evening in the Northern Hemisphere, as the Draco the Dragon constellation appears highest in the sky at nightfall, according to EarthSky.
NASA says the meteors are best observed right after sunset.
Where can you watch the Draconids in Michigan?
Look for a clear, open area to view the meteors in Michigan's skies. Michigan is home to six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks and an international dark sky sanctuary.
- The Alpena area has three Dark Sky Preserves: Rockport State Recreation Area, Thompson's Harbor State Park and Negwegon State Park.
- In Mackinaw City, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, 15675 Headlands Road.
- In Empire, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 9922 Front St.
- In Munising, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
- In Paradise, the Great Lakes Museum and Whitefish Point Light Station, 18335 N. Whitefish Point Road, and Tahquamenon Falls State Park at 41382 W. M-123.
- In Port Austin, Port Crescent State Park, 1775 Port Austin Road.
- In Clayton, Lake Hudson Recreation Area, 5505 Morey Hwy.
- In Carp Lake, Wilderness State Park, 903 Wilderness Park Drive.
- Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in Keweenaw County and Dr. T.K. Lawless Park in Cass County are international spots. And, finally, the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area is an international sanctuary.
When is the next meteor shower in 2026?
The Orionids is active until Nov. 7, peaking Oct. 21-22, according to the American Meteor Society.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Draconids peak in Michigan skies. When's the best time to see them?
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