Current:Home > NewsWhen and where to watch the peak of the Draconid meteor shower -AssetVision
When and where to watch the peak of the Draconid meteor shower
View
Date:2025-04-17 01:47:25
Stargazers in the northern hemisphere will have the chance to observe the Draconid meteor shower as it peaks Monday evening into early Tuesday morning.
The Draconids are somewhat of an oddity when it comes to meteor showers, in that they will be most visible in the evening hours rather than the early morning, according to EarthSky. The meteor shower's radiant point − the point from which they appear to emanate from − is the Draco, or dragon, constellation, which is at it's highest point in the evening.
The moon will only be 27% illuminated Monday night into Tuesday, per EarthSky, allowing for better visibility.
When is the Draconids meteor shower? How to watch
Best viewing for the Draconids is expected to be the later evening hours of Oct. 7 and into the early morning of Oct. 8.
Compared to something like the Perseid meteor shower, the Draconids are a bit more demure. At most, one might see up to 10 meteors streaking across the night sky per hour. The Draconids are also notable for their relatively slow speed as they enter Earth's atmosphere − around 23 kilometers, or 14 miles, per second − meaning that those meteors that can be seen may appear for a full 1-2 seconds.
The reason for the relative lack of meteor activity with the Draconids lays with Jupiter and its immense gravity. As the comet 21p/Giacobini-Zinner − the source of the Draconids − makes its more than six year orbit around the sun, its long tail of ice bits and rock are often drawn closer to the gas giant. Occasionally, though, the Draconids can approach closer to Earth and put on a show. In 1933 and 1946, thousands of meteors were sighted per hour, and in 1985, 1998 and 2018 there were also increased meteor counts. In 2011, European observers were able to see more than 600 meteors in one hour, according to EarthSky.
Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at MHauptman@gannett.com
veryGood! (43)
Related
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Paris Hilton Is Sliving for the Massive Baby Gift the Kardashians Gave Her Son Phoenix
- Fastest 'was' in the West: Inside Wikipedia's race to cover the queen's death
- Heartbroken Keanu Reeves Mourns Death of John Wick Co-Star Lance Reddick
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- King Charles III's net worth — and where his wealth comes from
- GLAAD gives social media giants poor grades over lack of protections for LGBTQ users
- Chris Kirkpatrick Shares Which NSYNC Member is the Surprisingly Least Active in the Group Chat
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Scheana Shay Shares Big Vanderpump Rules Reunion Update Amid Raquel Leviss' Restraining Order
Ranking
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Why Lindsey Vonn Is Living Her Best Life After Retirement
- Serbia school shooting leaves 8 students and a guard dead as teen student held as suspect
- Feuding drug cartels block roads near U.S. border as gunmen force children off school bus
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- After a serious breach, Uber says its services are operational again
- Who was behind the explosions in Crimea? Ukraine and Russia aren't saying
- Google celebrates NASA's DART mission with a new search gimmick
Recommendation
Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
Meet the new GDP prototype that tracks inequality
Shawn Mendes Clears the Air on Sabrina Carpenter Dating Rumors
'Smart gun' innovators seek to reduce firearm deaths
McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
My Holy Grail Smashbox Primer Is 50% Off Today Only: Here's Why You Need to Stock Up
Teen Mom's Jenelle Evans Regains Custody of Son Jace From Mom Barbara Evans
XXXTentacion’s Fatal Shooting Case: 3 Men Found Guilty of Murdering Rapper