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The draconid meteor shower will peak in the northern hemisphere skies on Friday night.
The short-lived shower, which occurs October 6-10, marks the first since the spectacular Perseids in August and takes its name from the constellation Draco.
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While meteors crossing the sky can be traced back to Draco’s dragon head – the radiant point from which space rocks seem to emanate – shooting stars can be seen from all parts of the sky.
Notably, the American Meteor Society explained, the Draconids are best seen in the evening just after dark.
View of a shooting star (Draconid) and northern lights near Skekarsbo in Farnebofjardens National Park, 150 km (93 miles) north of Stockholm, October 8, 2011.
(REUTERS / PM Heden / Scanpix Sweden)
That said, the rain only produces about 10 to 20 meteors per hour at its peak.
Draconid meteors are caused by debris from periodic comet 21P / Giacobini-Zinner, according to NASA.
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The agency notes that the comet has a six-and-a-half-year orbit that periodically transports it close to Jupiter, leaving tendrils of dust in its wake.
Draconids, sometimes called giacobinides, are also known for their rare explosions and in 2011 European observers counted more than 600 meteors per hour, EarthSky reported last week.
To see the meteor shower, interested parties should find a dark area with a clear view of the sky and avoid looking at light sources to give the eyes a chance to adjust.
While it is possible to see the rain from the southern hemisphere, if the constellation Draco does not rise above the horizon or rise only briefly, there will not be much to see. see.
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Astronomers are also lucky enough to see the Orionids during peak showering on the evening of Wednesday, October 20, although AccuWeather reports this year’s sighting will be affected by the brightness of the near full moon.
Other meteor showers, including the November Leonids and December Geminids, are on the agenda before the end of the year.
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