Washington DC skywatchers have a chance to catch a few shooting stars Thursday night as the Draconid meteor shower reaches its peak.
The Draconid meteor shower is active through Friday, with its peak occurring overnight Thursday into Friday. Unlike many meteor showers, the Draconids are best viewed in the evening rather than in the early-morning hours.
Luckily, the moon won't be much of a problem. NASA says a nearly new moon will provide little interference from moonlight, giving skywatchers darker conditions for spotting meteors.
But what does that mean if you're in the nation's capital?
Will the Draconid meteor shower be visible in Washington DC tonight?
Yes, the Draconids should be visible in Washington DC Thursday night, weather permitting.
The American Meteor Society says the best chance to see the Draconids
is as soon as it gets dark Thursday evening. The shower's radiant will be high in the northwestern sky for viewers in the Northern Hemisphere.
But don't expect a sky full of shooting stars. It will likely only be a few meteors per hour, and no unusual outburst is expected this year, according to the American Meteor Society.
NASA also describes the Draconids as a relatively modest shower, saying viewers may spot a few meteors per hour.
The National Weather Service forecast for DC calls for no precipitation Thursday night, with relatively low cloud cover during the evening, which could provide decent viewing conditions if the forecast holds.
The Draconids will remain active Friday, although Thursday offers the best chance to catch them.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will the Draconid meteor shower be visible in Washington DC tonight?
