Montana Could Get a Great View of This Meteor Shower

We've been having some pretty amazing weather here in Montana lately.

Sunny days, clear skies, and those crisp October nights are giving us plenty of reasons to look up. This week, there will be another reason to spend a little time outside after dark.

Catch the Draconid Meteor Shower!

The Draconid meteor shower will reach its peak the night of October 8 into the early morning hours of October 9, giving Montana stargazers a chance to see meteors streaking across the night sky.

Even better, the Draconids are a little different from many of the other meteor showers we see throughout the year.

According to EarthSky, the Draconids are unusual because their radiant point is highest in the sky around nightfall.

Evening Viewing: Best Time for Meteors

That means you have a better chance of seeing Draconid meteors during the evening hours, rather than having to wait until after midnight or wake up before sunrise.

That's good news for anybody who wants to check out the meteor shower without sacrificing an entire night's sleep.

Another bonus is that, according to NASA, there is a nearly new moon happening, so it won't interfere with viewing the meteor shower.

If you've ever gotten away from a Montana city on a clear night, you know just how dark the sky can get.

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Getting away from city lights can make a huge difference when you're trying to see meteors. Find a dark location with a wide-open view of the sky, give your eyes some time to adjust, and start watching.

Finding the Perfect Stargazing Spot

The Draconids are generally considered a bit of a sleeper. In a typical year, you might see only a handful of meteors per hour.

But that's part of what makes this particular shower interesting.

The Dragon's Surprise: Meteor Outbursts

Every once in a while, the "dragon" wakes up.

The Draconids have produced spectacular outbursts in the past, with hundreds of meteors per hour during rare events.

You never really know what you're going to see.

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So if Montana's skies cooperate, October 8 and 9 could give us a pretty good excuse to step outside, turn off the porch lights, and look up.

You might see a meteor.

You might see several.

If the dragon decides to wake up, you could see something much more spectacular.

Keep your eyes on the sky, Montana. You never know what you're going to see.