Draconid meteor shower 2017

This scientific phenomenon gets its name from the Draco the Dragon constellation which lies in the far northern part of the sky.

Kirk is majoring in astrophysics while minoring in applied mathematics and piano at Boise State University. He spends his weekends working at the largest public observatory in Idaho, the Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park Observatory, where he gives educational astronomy presentations and operates various large telescopes for the public. Even in perfect viewing conditions, the Draconids usually only produce a few meteors an hour, but occasionally the Draconids have been known to erupt into an outpouring of meteors of hundreds or even thousands per hour. The Draconids are special among annual meteor showers for two reasons: Draconid meteors can be slow-moving and long-burning, and the constellation they appear to stream from, Draco, is highest in the sky in early evening. The peak of the shower this year falls during the day for those of us in the Western hemisphere so the nights of both the 7 th and the 8 th should produce similar displays of meteors.

Draconid meteor shower 2017

The big show this weekend could be above us, as a potentially explosive meteor shower and a newfound comet blaze trails across the night sky. This weekend you can watch celestial dragons spitting fireballs and a newfound comet blazing its own path across the night sky. The comet was spotted for the first time by the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae ASAS-SN in July and has since brightened drastically and moved to its current position in the sky in the direction of the constellation Perseus, ideal for viewing from the northern hemisphere. It should be visible with a good pair of binoculars or a backyard telescope. To spot it, use this sky map to know where to point your lenses and look for a light that is a little softer and more fuzzy than a star, perhaps with a little bit of a tail. No binoculars are needed to spot the "shooting stars" that will be spit from the mouth of the constellation Draco the Dragon this weekend, though. The Draconids come from the debris trail left in our cosmic neighborhood by the comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner. Since our whole planet is passing through that cloud right now, you don't actually have to look in the direction of Draco to see the meteors. Instead, just head outside from anywhere that's as dark as possible, let your eyes adjust then just lay back and look straight up at the night sky. Unlike many meteor showers, the Draconids should actually be more visible in the evening before midnight, so no need to stay up all night or get up before dawn. Typically, the Draconids aren't the most prolific shower, often yielding just a handful of streaking meteors per hour, but every now and then we get what the American Meteor Society calls a "Draconid Outburst" of up to several hundred shooting stars per hour.

Eric uses his passion for writing about energy, renewables, science and climate to bring educational content to life on topics around the solar panel and deregulated energy industries.

The Draconid meteor shower is set to hit its peak this weekend, offering stargazers the opportunity to see dozens of shooting stars blazing across the sky. This stunning celestial display, which is also known as the Giacobinids, takes place every year and is one of the two meteor showers to light up the skies in October. Over the weekend, the Earth will pass through a swarm of debris left in the comet's wake, leading to meteors which appear as bright shooting stars when they enter the atmosphere and burn up. According to the Royal Observatory astronomer Affelia Wibisono, the shower is expected to peak on Sunday. She added: "The best time to see them is in the early evening on that day, but they are visible all through the night, weather depending of course. The meteor shower is most likely to be visible in the direction of the constellation of Draco, the Dragon, in the northern sky, just after nightfall.

Across Europe, the entire night sky was aglow. Viewers counted more than shooting stars per minute at various sites throughout the continent on that night. In the island country of Malta, people saw as many as meteors per minute. In an average year, the event is nothing extra special—the Draconids are expected to peak at about ten meteors per hour under ideal viewing conditions. This iteration of the shower, which occurs from October 6 to 10, will reach its maximum activity on October 8 and 9. Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through a cloud of debris left by an asteroid or comet.

Draconid meteor shower 2017

Up to a thousand shooting stars an hour could be on display during the peak of the shower expected on Sunday October 8. The Draconids got their name because they radiate out from a constellation known as Draco the Dragon. Space website Earthsky. The meteor shower usually has only has a "handful of languid meteors" per hour, even at its peak, according to Earthsky. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding.

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Shower shows Massive asteroids in popular meteor shower pose major threat Geminid glam shots: Meteor magic from around the globe pictures Rocket scientist catches 'shooting star' and aurora in single shot. Although the meteors may appear to originate from Draco, they will streak across the sky in all directions, so just lay back, relax, and watch until you spot a few. Kirk is majoring in astrophysics while minoring in applied mathematics and piano at Boise State University. Space website Earthsky. A Draconid disappears behind a tree in this image taken by a Canadian all sky camera. The Orionid meteor shower takes place every October when the Earth passes through a trail of debris left behind by Halley's Comet which we sadly won't see again until What are the Draconids? According to space website Earthsky. Comment Reblog Subscribe Subscribed. The Perseid meteor shower shows up the moon. Camera Obscura and World of illusions. As the comet gets closer to the sun and heats up, it sheds layers of itself into space, forming filaments of matter that the Earth later collides with. The Draconid meteor shower, also known as the Giacobinids , is the first of the 2 meteor showers to grace the skies in October. October may be best known for pumpkins, fall foliage , and haunted houses , but the month is also prime time for meteor showers. Already have a WordPress.

According to space website Earthsky. The meteors come from the direction of Draco the dragon in the northern sky, which is the constellation which they took their name.

This scientific phenomenon gets its name from the Draco the Dragon constellation which lies in the far northern part of the sky. This meteor shower is usually known as a sleeper with very few meteors, but watch out because the dragon might wake up and many shooting stars may race across the sky. In order to get a clear view of the meteor shower, go to a dark rural area away from light pollution. Previously, Eric covered space, science, climate change and all things futuristic. UK Edition. Over the weekend, the Earth will pass through a swarm of debris left in the comet's wake, leading to meteors which appear as bright shooting stars when they enter the atmosphere and burn up. Meteors are the result of this debris burning up in our atmosphere. Irish Sun. We were spoiled last month with beautiful views of the Northern Lights from Calton Hill in Edinburgh. US Edition. Over in America, Sunset is due at 6.