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On Tuesday night, the annual Draconid meteor shower will reach its peak in the northern hemisphere. The meteor shower, also known as shooting stars, is visible until October 10th and occurs when the Earth passes through the debris of an asteroid or a comet. The debris, typically fragments of rock or ice, creates light streaks in the sky due to the friction generated by burning up in the atmosphere.
The Draconid meteors get their name from the constellation of Draco, their radiant point, which is where they appear to originate from in the sky. The quality of the display is typically measured by the number of meteors visible every hour, or zenithal hourly rate (ZHR). The ZHR varies each year, and while it may be relatively low this year, viewers can still enjoy the spectacle given that the skies will be quite dark with a first quarter moon setting early in the evening.
In terms of weather, cloud cover could be the biggest obstacle to seeing the Draconids. Low pressure to the west of Ireland will bring rain and showers on the evening of the 8th, though there may be some clearer spells in certain parts of the UK. Conditions might improve for meteor viewing on Wednesday night with more widespread clear spells expected. The Draconids can be viewed in the evening when Draco is high in the northern sky, and interested viewers are encouraged to find a dark spot away from the city lights and allow their eyes to adjust for up to 15 minutes.
If viewers are unable to catch the Draconids, they need not wait too long for the next meteor shower. The Orionids will take place on the 21st and 22nd of October. With a little bit of luck, meteor enthusiasts will be able to enjoy these celestial events
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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