The Draconids, an unpredictable shower that can bring hundreds of meteors per minute, has begun

The Draconids, one of the year's most unpredictable meteor showers, will peak this week.

Although only a few "shooting stars" are expected, the shower has a history of producing spectacular meteor storms with little warning.

The Draconid meteor shower takes place Oct.

6-10 each year, peaking on Oct.

8-9, when around 10 "shooting stars" per hour are expected.

Whereas most meteor showers are best seen after midnight or during the dark hours before dawn, the best time to view the Draconids is in the evening, according to Timeanddate.com , making it one of the more convenient meteor showers of the year.

Just after dark Thursday (Oct.

8) will be the best time to look.

The Draconids are different from most other showers because their radiant — the point from which their meteors appear to originate — is in the constellation Draco, the Dragon, which is highest in the sky in the evening.

It's also circumpolar in much of the Northern Hemisphere, so it never sets below the horizon.

However, there's no need to stare directly at Draco, because meteors can appear anywhere in the sky.

This year, the Draconid meteor shower peaks at the perfect time of the month for dark skies.

Because the new moon occurs Saturday (Oct.

10), there will be no significant moonlight when the Draconids reach maximum activity.