Photo: Yuri SmityukTASS/gettyIt’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s another meteor shower!The Draconid meteor shower occurs every October, but this year’s shooting-star spectacle is expected to peak Oct. 8 during early evening and nightfall. Stargazers might even be able to witness a few showers the nights leading up to the main event starting Oct. 6.This year, viewers are in luck because the thin, waxing crescent moon is expected to set before nightfall, so conditions will be ideal to watch the starry display; as theAmerican Meteor Society explained, “These meteors are best seen just as soon as it becomes dark.“The radius of the showers almost coincides with the head of the Draco the Dragon constellation (hence the name), which is why they’re best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. However, you don’t have to locate the constellation in order to see the showers, because the stars fly every which way.Unlike many meteor showers, the Draconids take place earlier in the night, rather than in the hours right after midnight. Trends from previous years show the showers are notorious for being sleepy, with only a few flying meteors per hour. But watch out if the Dragon awakes! “In rare instances, fiery Draco has been known to spew forth many hundreds of meteors in a single hour,” according toEarthSky.com.SSPL/Getty ImagesAlso known as the Giacobinids, the Draconids are visible when the Earth passes through the debris trailing behind Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner and collides with Earth’s upper atmosphere. These showers have an orbital period of approximately 6.6 years.A fascinating, yet rare phenomenon that has potential to occur (yet is unlikely this year) takes place when the comet is at “perihelion”, meaning it’s at its closest distance to the sun. Hundreds or even thousands of meteors an hour occur when the comet’s peak aligns with the comet’s perihelion.The last time that occurred was in 2018 — the first time in 72 years! Since the comet has an orbital period of nearly seven years, star sighters shouldn’t expect a starburst that intense until 2025 (but it’s still a possibility!).October sees an uptick in meteor showers compared to September.The Orionid showers also happen this month and last until early November.NASA saysthe Orionids “are considered the most beautiful showers of the year,” but cautions that a particularly bright lunar cycle this year means that viewing conditions won’t be ideal around their peak.The Orionid meteor shower will take place between Oct. 2 and Nov. 7. Viewers are expected to witness up to 20 meteors per hour around its peak in the early morning on Thursday, Oct. 21.
Photo: Yuri SmityukTASS/getty
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s another meteor shower!The Draconid meteor shower occurs every October, but this year’s shooting-star spectacle is expected to peak Oct. 8 during early evening and nightfall. Stargazers might even be able to witness a few showers the nights leading up to the main event starting Oct. 6.This year, viewers are in luck because the thin, waxing crescent moon is expected to set before nightfall, so conditions will be ideal to watch the starry display; as theAmerican Meteor Society explained, “These meteors are best seen just as soon as it becomes dark.“The radius of the showers almost coincides with the head of the Draco the Dragon constellation (hence the name), which is why they’re best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. However, you don’t have to locate the constellation in order to see the showers, because the stars fly every which way.Unlike many meteor showers, the Draconids take place earlier in the night, rather than in the hours right after midnight. Trends from previous years show the showers are notorious for being sleepy, with only a few flying meteors per hour. But watch out if the Dragon awakes! “In rare instances, fiery Draco has been known to spew forth many hundreds of meteors in a single hour,” according toEarthSky.com.SSPL/Getty ImagesAlso known as the Giacobinids, the Draconids are visible when the Earth passes through the debris trailing behind Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner and collides with Earth’s upper atmosphere. These showers have an orbital period of approximately 6.6 years.A fascinating, yet rare phenomenon that has potential to occur (yet is unlikely this year) takes place when the comet is at “perihelion”, meaning it’s at its closest distance to the sun. Hundreds or even thousands of meteors an hour occur when the comet’s peak aligns with the comet’s perihelion.The last time that occurred was in 2018 — the first time in 72 years! Since the comet has an orbital period of nearly seven years, star sighters shouldn’t expect a starburst that intense until 2025 (but it’s still a possibility!).October sees an uptick in meteor showers compared to September.The Orionid showers also happen this month and last until early November.NASA saysthe Orionids “are considered the most beautiful showers of the year,” but cautions that a particularly bright lunar cycle this year means that viewing conditions won’t be ideal around their peak.The Orionid meteor shower will take place between Oct. 2 and Nov. 7. Viewers are expected to witness up to 20 meteors per hour around its peak in the early morning on Thursday, Oct. 21.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s another meteor shower!
The Draconid meteor shower occurs every October, but this year’s shooting-star spectacle is expected to peak Oct. 8 during early evening and nightfall. Stargazers might even be able to witness a few showers the nights leading up to the main event starting Oct. 6.
This year, viewers are in luck because the thin, waxing crescent moon is expected to set before nightfall, so conditions will be ideal to watch the starry display; as theAmerican Meteor Society explained, “These meteors are best seen just as soon as it becomes dark.”
The radius of the showers almost coincides with the head of the Draco the Dragon constellation (hence the name), which is why they’re best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. However, you don’t have to locate the constellation in order to see the showers, because the stars fly every which way.
Unlike many meteor showers, the Draconids take place earlier in the night, rather than in the hours right after midnight. Trends from previous years show the showers are notorious for being sleepy, with only a few flying meteors per hour. But watch out if the Dragon awakes! “In rare instances, fiery Draco has been known to spew forth many hundreds of meteors in a single hour,” according toEarthSky.com.
SSPL/Getty Images
Also known as the Giacobinids, the Draconids are visible when the Earth passes through the debris trailing behind Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner and collides with Earth’s upper atmosphere. These showers have an orbital period of approximately 6.6 years.
A fascinating, yet rare phenomenon that has potential to occur (yet is unlikely this year) takes place when the comet is at “perihelion”, meaning it’s at its closest distance to the sun. Hundreds or even thousands of meteors an hour occur when the comet’s peak aligns with the comet’s perihelion.
The last time that occurred was in 2018 — the first time in 72 years! Since the comet has an orbital period of nearly seven years, star sighters shouldn’t expect a starburst that intense until 2025 (but it’s still a possibility!).
October sees an uptick in meteor showers compared to September.The Orionid showers also happen this month and last until early November.NASA saysthe Orionids “are considered the most beautiful showers of the year,” but cautions that a particularly bright lunar cycle this year means that viewing conditions won’t be ideal around their peak.
The Orionid meteor shower will take place between Oct. 2 and Nov. 7. Viewers are expected to witness up to 20 meteors per hour around its peak in the early morning on Thursday, Oct. 21.
source: people.com
