Earth is passing through the cast-off remnants of an ancient comet Friday, but the resulting meteor shower will be lackluster at best, experts say. Yet the event sets the stage for a truly remarkable shooting star display in 2011.

The source of this annual October meteor display, called the Draconid meteor shower, is dust and debris leftover from Comet Giacobini-Zinner.

The Draconid meteor shower has a reputation for disappointing skywatchers with lackluster displays, unlike the spectacular sky shows that sometimes accompany the annual Perseid meteor shower in August and the Leonid shower in November.  [ Best Leonid Meteor Shower Photos]

This year, according to skwatching experts, will be no different. But by all accounts, 2011 will be a year to remember for the Draconids. [ MSNBC NEWS ]