Wassup In The October Night Sky

The Draconid meteor shower is comparatively a short-lived event in the general ranking of meteor showers.  The Draconids occur when the orbit of the earth bisects the orbital path of Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.

When the dust and icy debris of the comet collide with the upper atmosphere of the earth it burns-up as the Draconid meteor shower.  

This comet is named after its discoverer when Michel Giacobini first observed it on December 20, 1900.  A subsequent observation by Ernst Zinner in 1913 added him to the name - thusly 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.

Radiating from the constellation Draco - the dragon - this constellation found in our northern hemisphere can be spotted near the bright star, Vega. This year the meteor shower is expected to peak around midnight October 8 and 9. A great opportunity to observe shooting stars despite light competition from the full moon. 

Follow this chart facing north.  Locate the Big Dipper low in the northwest. Traced backwards the Draconid meteors radiate from the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon.  It is helpful to know that it is very easy to locate Draco - yet be assured that meteors can appear anywhere in the night sky.

Be vigilant and fingers-crossed for clear viewing conditions.

Pro Tip - The Draconids are notoriously unreliable as to activity.  Most of the time it is minor meteor shower.  Other years it exceeds the Geminids and Perseids.  In 2011 astronomers documented more than 600 meteors per hour at its peak!