Draconid Meteor Shower Peaks: When To See Them In Maryland

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MARYLAND (Patch.com) — The Draconid meteor shower is the sleepiest celestial show of the year, usually offering only a handful of shooting stars an hour. But it's the one skygazers root and cheer for, perhaps in hopes of waking Draco the Dragon for a dazzling display. That's rare — and there is only a sliver of a chance that will happen during the 2018 peak on Sunday and Monday, Oct. 7-8 — but a new moon on the 9th guarantees the skies over Maryland will be dark.

The Draconids are the first of two meteor showers this month. The Orionids, which produce a more reliable shooting star show, peaks later in the month. They might produce a surprise this year — more about that in a bit.