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The Draconids arrive in Madrid this week: when and where to watch them
The meteor shower will be visible from 6 to 10 October, with an almost new Moon making it easier to observe away from city lights.
The sky over Madrid will have a new astronomical event this week. The Draconids will be active from 6 to 10 October and will reach their peak during the early hours of Thursday 8 to Friday 9, around 03:00, peninsular time. The faint light of the Moon will make them easier to observe, as long as clouds allow it.
This phenomenon occurs when the Earth passes through debris left by the comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. Although the Draconids have produced intense displays in the past, no exceptional activity is expected this year.
To see them in the region, it is best to get away from urban lighting and find a place with a wide, clear view of the sky. The dark areas of the sierra offer better conditions than the centro de Madrid. The meteors appear to come from the constellation of the Dragon, but they can cross any part of the sky, so there is no need to look at a single point.