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Meteors projected across lower parts of space may be visible in remote areas of Riverside County this evening as the “Draconid” meteor shower arrives, providing a spectacular light show in the North
Hemisphere.
According to meteorologists, the Draconids, which are debris from comet 21P Giacobini, may provide the best meteor shower activity for the entire fall season. EarthSky and AccuWeather indicate that parts of Southern California well east of Los Angeles with minimal urban lighting, such as the Anza Valley and the desert expanse between Palm Springs and Blythe, may provide opportunities for visualization.
Cloud cover associated with the frontal border sliding across the region and into Arizona could mar the view, but some of the cloud cover is expected to dissipate overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
NASA astronomers have said the Draconids get their name from the constellation Draco, which meteors appear to pass through.
Showers were first noticed in the early 1900s, and since then they have been sighted in the northern sky about every five or six years, NASA said. In 2011, European stargazers counted 600 meteors per hour during a downpour. However, tonight’s event is only expected to produce five to ten per hour, according to EarthSky.
Meteors are likely to appear just after dark and continue until the hours before dawn. There is another viewing opportunity on Saturday night, but it may not be as impressive, according to meteorologists.
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