How to watch the Draconids and Orionids meteor showers in Germany
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The Draconids and Orionids meteor showers peak in the skies in early and late October every year. Here’s how to catch a glimpse of the natural wonder if you’re in Germany.
Watching the Draconids meteor shower in Germany
During October, two meteor showers grace the skies over Germany: the Draconids and the Orionids.
In 2025, the Draconids are expected to arrive between October 6 and 10. The meteor shower will peak on the night between October 8 and 9. Named after the Draco constellation that it radiates from, the shower has the potential to shoot tens of thousands of meteors across the night sky - although an event of that magnitude last occurred in 1946.
To get the best view of the Draconids, be sure to look towards the Polar Star just after sunset. Meteor showers are best visible in areas away from cities and light pollution. Find a spot to lie down and give your eyes 15 to 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness
As they are comparatively slow meteors, the Draconids should be easy enough to see so long as the weather is favourable. According to BBC Weather, on the night of October 8, the skies will be partially cloudy in northern Germany and clearer in the south.
How to see the Orionids in October in Germany
In 2025, the Orionids meteor shower will be active from October 2 to November 12, and peak on the night between October 21 and 22. The Orionids originate from Halley’s comet and become visible when the comet’s debris collides with Earth’s atmosphere.
The Orionids are among the fastest meteor showers - travelling at 66 kilometres a second - so they may be trickier to see. But under ideal conditions, you could catch sight of between 10 and 20 meteors per hour.
The best time to spot a meteor is in the hours after midnight on the night that the shower peaks. Find a viewing spot away from light pollution and give your eyes around 30 minutes adjust to the dark, especially because the Orionids are faint.
To find the meteors against the dark sky, look around 40 degrees above the meteor radiant (the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate).