The peak of the Draconid meteor shower, produced by the Earth’s crossing with remains of comet 21 P/Giacobini-Zinner, will take place this week, with this Wednesday being one of the best nights to see them.

The remains of the comet, upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere, burn due to speed as they brush through the air, generating bright flashes in the sky.

These meteors are usually seen near the head of the constellation Draco, or the Dragon, in the northern sky, which explains their name, NASA says.

The Draconid shower is seen only in the northern hemisphere, and can produce up to 10 meteors per hour.

However, the rate of meteors during the shower’s peak depends on how much of the comet’s trail crosses Earth’s orbit in a given year, says England’s Royal Museums Greenwich.

“In recent years, the draconids have not produced any particular burst of activity. However, in 1933 and 1946, the draconid meteor shower produced some of the most active displays of the 20th century,” Greenwich Museums states.

Its observation range goes from October 6 to 10, although it will be this Wednesday the 8th when it reaches its maximum.

However, the observing conditions may not be the best, since the full moon, which considerably illuminates the sky, was only last Monday, so the skies will not be completely dark (not counting the weather conditions or light pollution near large cities and population centers).

The draconids are also known as the giacobinids, owing their name to Michel Giacobini, the French astronomer who discovered comet 21 P/Giacobini-Zinner in 1900.

After the draconids, the peak of the orionids will occur – created by dust particles from Halley’s Comet – and will take place on October 21.