Visible to the naked eye.. Draconid meteors falling today at 10 meteors per hour

Arab Weather - The skies of the Arab world will witness today, Monday, October 7, 2024, the peak of the Draconid meteor shower, as it can be seen with the naked eye without the need for telescopes or special monitoring devices.

According to the Jeddah Astronomical Society, the Draconid meteor shower occurs when the Earth passes through the path of Comet Giacoboni-Zinner as it orbits the Sun. Debris from the comet hits the upper atmosphere of the Earth, causing it to burn up into meteors. The Draconid meteor shower is active annually for a short period from October 6 to 10 , and is characterized by its falling point being high after sunset, unlike many meteor showers that are observed after midnight.

Meteor path and starting point

When tracking the Draconid meteors, it can be seen that their starting point comes from the Draco constellation on the northern horizon near the stars "Dragon" and "Serpent's Head". However, there is no need to specify a starting point, as the meteors can appear anywhere in the sky.

Best time to view the Draconid meteor shower

The best time to watch these meteors is after dark until the early morning hours of October 8. It is recommended to watch from a dark location away from city lights, not from home. The human eye takes about 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness, and observers should allow themselves at least an hour to see the meteors.

Meteor shower rate

In general, the Draconid meteor shower occurs at a rate of 5 to 10 meteors per hour. However, the exact number of meteors cannot be determined with certainty; it may range from a handful to several. So it is best to watch to be sure.

In 2024, the moon will be a crescent moon at the beginning of the month, setting a few hours after sunset, leaving the sky dark for meteor viewing.

History of the Draconid meteor shower

Historically, the Draconids produced meteor storms in 1933 and 1946, with thousands of meteors per hour recorded. The comet returned in 1998, with a shower rate of about 100 meteors per hour. In October 2011, about 600 meteors per hour were recorded, despite the presence of the moon that night.

Reasons for the difference in meteor showers

The reason for the variation in meteor shower from year to year is due to the comet that is the source of these meteors being closer to the sun, which increases the amount of dust particles spread along its orbit. In 2024, no Draco meteor storm is expected due to the comet's distance, while its next approach will be in 2025.

Meteor shower names

It is worth noting that most meteor showers are named after the group of stars in front of which they appear to originate from our perspective on Earth. In the case of the Draconids, their origin point is in front of the Dracon stars.

See also:

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