Draconids Meteor Showers Return

[full_frontal_occlusion]

Dust from comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner produce slow moving meteors (20km/s) in a shower which appear to emerge from the northern constellation Draco.

At maximum on Oct. 8th, this year expected to produce meteors every few minutes.

Past returns have produced spectacular showers with rates in excess of 6000/hr with a peak rate of +400/min.

Find the Draco radiant by tracing a vertical line above the first star of the Big-Dipper pan handle, and a hrizontal line westwards from Polaris (north star). Draco is just above the intersection (or roughly).

Draconid info and location map

Best time to view is just after sunset around 8 pm and away from city / street lights as the meteors tend not to be very bright (mag 2 - 4).

ffO.

Edited October 8, 2008 by full_frontal_occlusion

[Andy Bown]

Thanks for that info FFO, it should be a perfect evening for viewing B) .

[JRMcLeod]

Will try to remember this for tonight, hopefully it will be clear

[James M]

Crystal clear skies here so will have a look out later.

Edited October 8, 2008 by James M

[James M]

Well the skies were clear, but when I went to look out it had clouded over, typical

[grab my graupel]

Well, I had a perfectly clear evening here, but unfortunately, I was unable to get outside to have a look until about 9pm.

I did manage to see a couple of meteors though