LONDON: Draconids are ready for their annual night show set on Oct. 8 and 9 starting at nightfall. Formerly known as Giacobinids, Draconid meteors are named after the constellation Draco the Dragon.
The 21P/Giacobini-Zinner is the comet the causes the Draconid meteor showers. Every six and half years, 21P/Giacobini-Zinner orbits the sun. The Draconid meteor shower happens whenever the Earth comes in contact with the dirt and fragments from the 21P/Giacobini-Zinner route. Unlike other comets, 21P/Giacobini-Zinner creates roughly 10 to 20 showers per hour. However, in 2011, stargazers in Europe reported almost 660 meteors per hour. The meteors were visible even with a bright moon.
Here are some tips on how to prepare for the Draconid meteor shower.
Best place to view: The constellation Draco is located in the uppermost part of the northern sky. Starwatchers in the Northern Hemisphere – United States, Europe, Canada, and northern Asia, will have the best view.
Best place to look: To a human on Earth, Draconids will look as if they are radiating out of the constellation Draco the Dragon. Look for Draco’s two brightest stars –
Eltanin and Rastaban. Draconids will appear to be coming out of the Draco’s head.
Using the Summer Triangle (Deneb, Vega, and Altair) as a guide will help stargazers locate Draco’s two brightest, which are right above the star Vega.
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