Posted on 10/04/2017 2:56:24 PM PDT by ransomnote
October’s Draconid meteor shower – sometimes called the Giacobinids – radiates from the fiery mouth of the northern constellation Draco the Dragon. Because the radiant is located so far north on the sky’s dome, this shower favors temperate and far-northern latitudes, such as the U.S., Canada, Europe and northern Asia. In 2017, the most meteors will probably fall on the evening of October 7 or 8. Start watching first thing at nightfall. The waning gibbous moon will rise at early evening, so there will be very little moon-free time to view this shower.We must warn you that this shower is often a sleeper, even in a dark sky completely free of moonlight. But watch out if the Dragon awakes, which is always a possibility! Follow the links below to learn more about the Draconid meteor shower. Where is the radiant point of the Draconid shower, and how many Draconids will I see? Unlike most meteor showers, the Draconids are best seen in the evening, instead of before dawn. That’s because the winged Dragon, the shower’s radiant point, flies highest in the sky at nightfall.
These extremely slow-moving Draconid meteors, when traced backward, radiate from the head of Draco the Dragon, near the stars Eltanin and Rastaban.
However, you don’t have to locate Draco the Dragon to watch the Draconids, for these meteors fly every which way through the starry sky.
(Excerpt) Read more at earthsky.org ...
In 1933 and 1946, the meteor showers were intense. The one in '33 was said to rain down meteors like snowflakes and one observer estimated at maximum, 100 in 5 seconds. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1934PA.....42...44W
Last year was better than usual - it can be quite mild in some years.
I’m sure it will be overcast here. It’s ALWAYS overcast here during meteor showers. (MA)
Consider myself an expert...
Only the geminids and the perseids have ever been worthwhile for me.
bkmk
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