[ad_1]
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 show is expected to peak on October 8 in the early evening and nightfall. Astronomers might even witness a few showers on the nights leading up to the main event starting October 6.
This year, viewers are in luck as the thin crescent moon is expected to set before nightfall, so conditions will be ideal for watching the starry spectacle; as the American Meteor Society explained, “These meteors are best seen as soon as it gets dark.”
RELATED: Orionid Meteor Shower Soon Climaxes: Here’s How & When To Watch
The ray of the showers almost coincides with the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon (hence the name), which is why they are best seen from the northern hemisphere. However, you don’t need to locate the constellation to see the showers, as the stars are flying all over the place.
Unlike many meteor showers, the Draconids occur earlier in the night, rather than in the hours after midnight. Trends from previous years show that showers are known to be drowsy, with only a few flying meteors per hour. But be careful if the Dragon wakes up! “In rare cases, the fiery Draco is known to spit out several hundred meteors in a single hour,” according to EarthSky.com.
SSPL / Getty Images
Also known as Giacobinides, Draconids are visible as Earth passes through debris trailing behind Comet 21P / Giacobini-Zinner and collides with Earth’s upper atmosphere. These showers have an orbital period of about 6.6 years.
A fascinating, but rare phenomenon that has the potential to occur (but is unlikely this year) occurs when the comet is at “perihelion,” meaning it is at its closest distance from the sun. Hundreds or even thousands of meteors per hour occur when the comet’s peak aligns with the comet’s perihelion.
The last time this happened was in 2018 – the first time in 72 years! Since the comet has an orbital period of almost seven years, stargazers shouldn’t expect such an intense star burst until 2025 (but it’s still a possibility!).
RELATED: Cameras Capture Meteor Lighting Florida Night Sky
October sees an increase in meteor showers compared to September. Orionides showers also occur this month and last until early November. NASA says the Orionids “are considered the best showers of the year,” but warns that a particularly bright lunar cycle this year means viewing conditions will not be ideal around their peak.
The Orionid meteor shower will take place between October 2 and November 7. Viewers are expected to witness up to 20 meteors per hour around its early morning peak on Thursday, October 21.
[ad_2]
Source link