Draconid Meteor Shower to Peak This Week: Here’s How to See It
The Draconid meteor shower, caused by Earth passing through debris left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, is set to peak this week, with Wednesday, October 8th, offering notably good viewing opportunities.
As these remnants of the comet enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds, they burn up, creating the shining streaks of light we certainly know as meteors.NASA reports these meteors typically appear to radiate from near the head of the constellation Draco, or the Dragon, in the northern sky – so the shower’s name.
Visible only in the Northern Hemisphere, the Draconid shower can produce up to 10 meteors per hour at its peak. Though, the actual number of visible meteors varies year to year depending on how dense the comet’s debris trail is where Earth’s orbit intersects it, according to England’s Royal Museums Greenwich. While recent years have seen relatively quiet displays, the shower was exceptionally active in 1933 and 1946, producing some of the most impressive meteor events of the 20th century.
The Draconids are observable between October 6th and 10th, with the peak expected on Wednesday. Unluckily, observing conditions might potentially be less than ideal. The recent full moon on Monday will create a bright sky,diminishing the visibility of fainter meteors. Light pollution from cities and weather conditions will also impact viewing.
Also known as the Giacobinids, the shower is named after Michel Giacobini, the French astronomer who discovered comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner in 1900.
Looking ahead, the Orionid meteor shower, created by dust particles from Halley’s Comet, will peak on October 21st.
