The annual Draconid meteor shower is currently visible over the UK and, unlike most meteor showers, you don’t have to stay up until the early hours of the morning to see it.
Although it’s a less active shower, it still gives people the chance to see some spectacular shooting stars, and with clear skies expected across much of the country on Monday evening, this year’s Draconids provide a great opportunity for evening stargazing.
Here’s everything you need to know to spot them before they disappear.
When is the Draconid meteor shower expected?
The Draconid meteor shower occurs every October in the Northern Hemisphere.
It started in 2023 Friday, October 6 and will continue until then Tuesday, October 10.
Peak evenings are Sunday, October 8th and Monday, October 9th.where up to 10 shooting stars will be visible every hour.
What are Draconids?
Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through a cloud of debris from a comet.
In this case, the Draconid meteor shower comes from debris from comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.
If you trace the path of the meteors, it turns out that they come from a point in the constellation Draco, where the meteor shower got its name.
They are also known as Giacobinides, named after Michel Giacobini, the discoverer of the comet.
The number of meteors during the shower’s peak depends on how much of the comet’s orbit intersects Earth’s in a given year.
The Royal Museum Greenwich said: “The draconians have not caused any particular surges of activity in recent years. However, in 1933 and 1946, the Draconids made some of the most active demonstrations of the 20th century.”
How can I see a meteor shower from the UK?
For most meteor showers, you’ll have to get up at 3 or 4 a.m. to have the best chance of seeing them.
However, the Draconids are best seen at night, since after dark the stream’s emission point in the constellation Draco is highest in the sky. The best time to start searching is after dark.
You don’t have to look for a constellation to see rain. Although the radiation point is in Draco, meteors will be visible anywhere in the sky.
Meteor showers are best observed with a good, clear view of the stars on a cloudless night. Try to find a place with dark skies, a clear horizon and minimal pollution.
Make sure that your eyes are not exposed to direct light sources so that you can fully adjust to local conditions and ensure that weaker meteors are visible. This also includes not looking at your phone.
There is no advantage to using binoculars or a telescope. Just look up to see the sky as best as possible.
Source: I News
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