Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Draconid Meteors Over Spain

NASA ^ | October 19, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: What are those streaks in the sky? They're meteors from the Draconids meteor shower that peaked earlier this month. The above composite image captured numerous meteor streaks over 90 minutes above the Celtic ruins of Capote in Badajoz province, Spain. The particles that caused these meteors were typically the size of a pebble and were expelled long ago from the nucleus of comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. Most of the above meteors can be traced back to a single radiant emanating from the constellation of the Dragon (Draco). Reports from this year meteor shower indicate that the Draconids were unusually good this year with activity was concentrated around 8 pm UT on October 8. The most intense Draconid meteor showers in recent history occurred in 1933 and 1946 when thousands of meteors per hour were recorded as the Earth plowed through particularly dense streams of comet debris. Although the Draconids occur every October, it is usually difficult to know just how active each year's meteor shower will be. APOD Challenge: How many meteors can you find on the above image?

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: Juan Carlos Casado (TWAN) ]

[SunkenCiv]

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[momtothree]

That must be spectacular to view!

[left that other site]

You must love this photo, Civ! It can be either in THIS thread, or in your GGG Thread. Meteors and ruins in the sam,e shot! A Gold Mine! LOL

[TheOldLady]

Meteor showers are fun to watch.

I wish there were a clear night during one of them here.

I saw a truly spectacular meteor, just one, in Northern California early one morning. I just happened to be looking at the gorgeous, clear, predawn sky, and a very bright meteor streaked by across 75% of the area I could see before it flamed out.

That was a once-in-a-lifetime sight for me. Never saw one so large, so bright, that went for so long, even though it was gone in an instant. I'll never forget it.

[gargoyle]

...Found one...

[.30Carbine]

42.

[SunkenCiv]

;’)

[SunkenCiv]

Catastrophism, maybe. :’)

[left that other site]

Yo DO have some good choices!

[SunkenCiv]

:’) Thanks.

[Trillian]

Please add me to your ping list.