The Draconid meteor bathe peaks tonight, heralding a spectacular pure mild present as a flurry of meteors streak via the moonlit October skies.
Draconid meteors will be seen annually as Earth barrels via the path of particles left behind by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. The bathe is energetic throughout a comparatively transient window from Oct. 6 to Oct. 10 and involves a peak as our planet passes via the densest part of the particles path at 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) on Oct. 8.
Around this time, up to 10 shooting stars could possibly be seen underneath perfect circumstances every hour, as historical fragments of comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner collide with Earth’s environment, burning up in a fiery show that we liken to “shooting stars”. However, the sunshine of a 93%-lit waning gibbous moon two days previous its full moon section will saturate the sky with mirrored daylight, making it tougher to see fainter members of the annual bathe.
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Draconid meteors seem to streak away from a degree of origin — or radiant — positioned near the top of the good dragon represented by the constellation Draco, which will be discovered glittering above the Big Dipper asterism within the northwestern sky after sundown in mid-October.
The finest time to hunt for Draconoids is at sundown on Oct. 8, when the bathe’s radiant might be at its highest within the evening sky. You can maximize your probabilities of catching meteors with the longest tails by staring right into a patch of sky some 40 levels above the radiant. Remember: the width of your clenched fist accounts for roughly 10 levels within the sky when held at arm’s size!
Hoping to snap a shot of a fast paced Draconid? Then make sure you learn our information detailing the digital camera settings and finest practices that can assist you {photograph} capturing stars.
Editor’s Note: If you seize a picture of a meteor or fireball and wish to share it with Space.com’s readers, then please ship your photograph(s), feedback, and your identify and placement to spacephotos@house.com.