When will Draconid meteor shower light up the sky and where can you see it? --[Reported by Umva mag]

If you find a clear sky later, look up and you could see one of the most stunning meteor shows of the year.

The Draconids are due to peak tonight, as the Earth travels through a cloud of debris left behind by a comet.

They are sometimes known as the Giacobinids, named after Michel Giacobini – who discovered the comet 21 P/Giacobini-Zinner from which the meteors come.

Even though particles can be as small as a grain of sand, they can still put on a beautiful show.

While there is a chance of seeing them in the Northern Hemisphere from Sunday to Thursday this week, the peak is between Tuesday and Wednesday, tonight.

What time is the Draconid meteor shower?

These meteors are some of the easiest to see, as you don’t need to stay up way past bedtime on a school night. While most other meteor showers are best seen in the early hours, the Draconids are best seen in the evening, after nightfall.

That means from around 7pm tonight, though you will still be able to catch a glimpse into the early hours too.

Allow your eyes about 20 minutes to half an hour to adjust to the darkness first for optimal night vision.

Dr Minjae Kim, a research fellow from the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick, said: ‘During ideal conditions, observers may witness up to 10 meteors per hour.

‘The shower’s radiant point is highest in the evening sky, making it a rare meteor shower best viewed after sunset rather than in the early morning hours.

‘The waxing crescent to first quarter moon phase will provide relatively dark skies, enhancing visibility.

‘So, seek out any areas with minimal light pollution, such as rural settings or parks away from city lights. Also, find a spot with an unobstructed view of the sky and a clear horizon.

‘You could bring a reclining chair or blanket to comfortably observe the sky. Remember, patience is key when stargazing. Settle in, relax, and let the wonders of the night sky unfold before you.’

What other meteor showers will be visible this month?

Meteor showers occur when space debris enters the earth’s atmosphere and burns up some 62 miles from the ground.

You won’t have to wait long for the next peak, as the Southern Taurids (left behind by y Comet Encke) will be most visible in just two days time, between October 10 and 11.

The relatively slow and bright shower actually started around around September 10 and will last until November 20, but a rate of just five an hour, you might be waiting a while before one appears in the sky.

Another fragment of the same debris cloud – the Northern Taurids – will be visible from the end of the month, peaking in the middle of November.

After that, the Orionids meteor system will also be visible in October, made up of dust behind from Halley’s Comet.

While we won’t see one-in-75-years Halley itself again until 2061, the Orionids will still put on a show.

Perhaps the most dramatic of the displays, their maximum lands around October 21 and 22, although they have been visible since this week.

These fast moving meteors with fine trains fly overhead at a rate of 25 an hour, so they’re your most reliable bet if you want to venture out to look at the night sky.

You have until November 7 to catch a glimpse as they fly through the atmosphere at speeds of 41 miles per second.

Where to watch the meteor showers

‘Hunting for meteors, like the rest of astronomy, is a waiting game’, Royal Observatory Greenwich advises.

‘It’s best to bring a comfy chair to sit on and to wrap up warm as you could be outside for a while.’

The best spot is somewhere with a clear view of the stars, with very little light pollution.

You’ll certainly have better luck on Ben Nevis than Primrose Hill, but there’s always a happy medium.

Just pray you won’t fall victim to cloudy weather that would obstruct your view of the night sky.

The Royal Observatory said: ‘Make sure there are no direct sources of light in your eyes, so that you can fully adapt to the local conditions and ensure that fainter meteors become visible.

‘There’s no advantage to using binoculars or a telescope; just look up to take in the widest possible view of the sky.’

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